This past Sunday, we discussed one of the more beautiful passages in all scripture, Philippians 2:5-11, often referred to as ‘the hymn of Christ.’ It is an impassioned expression of Christ's humility in going to the cross. What Jesus did cannot be separated from how he did it. He did not use what he had (being in the very nature of God) to his advantage.
Unfortunately, there are so many instances where we do not express humility but rather reveal our conceit. I used as an example Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, who was one of the top scorers in the NBA this past season (he averaged 30 points a game) but only made one shot out of 15 in the first three quarters in a decisive game seven. He then scored 16 points in the fourth quarter. In an interview after the game, he was oozing confidence. He said, “I'm humbly one of the best basketball players in the world.” I commented he should have followed the advice in Proverbs 27:2, “Let another praise you not your own mouth.”
After Sunday, I did a little research and found out Tatum is a Christian with a large tattoo on his back that says, ‘God will Proverb 3:5-6.’ He also has been quoted saying,
"[Faith is] something that has stuck with me for a long time. I even got it tattooed on my wrist. From a young age, my grandmother was the first one to always remind me of how blessed I am to be in this position, the talents I have, and everything that you do, you do it for Jesus.”
Tatum’s Twitter bio says, "If you put God First, anything is possible!!! Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me!!! In Jesus name, I Play.”
It is as if Tatum is trying not to brag by saying, "I’m humble." So, is it just confidence? Can you be humble and confident at the same time? Many misunderstand someone's humility as meek, lowly, and lacking backbone. It is the opposite. Someone whose identity is in Christ, is not trying to prove themselves, and is in fear of no one except the almighty God– that person has a robust confidence level. It is better described as God's confidence than self–confidence. There is confidence in God and how he has created them to serve others.
Tatum appears to be striving to be closer to this by beginning with “I'm humbly…,” though it would have probably been better left unsaid. In my research, I discovered he spends some of his time and money thinking of others. He created the Jayson Tatum Foundation. He states the purpose of his foundation on the website:
“With the knowledge that individuals and families succeed with the proper resources and opportunities, The Jayson Tatum Foundation offers programs and initiatives to inspire and impact the lives of children, teens, and families through education, athletics, and support. Through this work, The Jayson Tatum Foundation is investing in the next generation of leaders – not only to fulfill their personal dreams and aspirations but also to empower them to be the positive change they need to see in their communities.”
A sound bite says something but not everything about someone. Let’s all grow in our humility and God-confidence.
