Capistrano Community Church

November Blessing Journal
Song: You're Worthy Of My Praise
Bible Passage: Genesis 11: 1-13:24

You’re Worthy Of My Praise
I will give You all my worship, I will give You all my praise.
You alone I long to worship, You alone are worthy of my praise.
By David Ruis

Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." [Genesis 11: 4]

Of the seven Ancient Wonders of the world, six have not survived to this present day….the pyramids are the only one of the seven still existing. Monuments are meant to last, to be there for future generations and a fundamental urge of the human race is that some part of us, our culture, our lives, our very existence, be permanent and remembered. According to Paul Wong, President of INPM, “Everyone aspires to be somebody, and no one wants to be a no-body. From the depth of our souls, there is a persistent cry for personal significance. This universal search for meaning manifests itself in a variety of ways, from self-seeking to self-sacrifice. It seems that we are prepared to do anything to convince ourselves, if not the rest of the world, that we really matter and that our lives are worthwhile.” The people building the tower of Babel were no different in this regard. The heart of the matter is made clear in these words, "Let us make a name for ourselves…" The people of Babel were building a monument to themselves, to call attention to their own abilities and achievements instead of giving glory to God.

It is difficult to be humble. Even if you aim at humility, there is no guarantee that when you have attained the state you will not be proud of the feat. Are there any “towers” you are building in your life? Any time we long to be known in our world, to exercise particular prestige in our community or church, that is our “tower of Babel.” Instead of giving God and others the glory we long to keep a little for ourselves. It’s hard to be humble, to give away praise but take comfort in the fact that when you no longer depend on anything in you, then God is ready to give you everything He possesses.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit [the man who has nothing, the man who has lost everything upon which he can depend, outside and inside himself] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3 RSV)

-c anderson

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