Lizzie took a deep breath and entered the room. Joining a women’s Bible study was a bit nerve-wracking, but it would be a good way to get to know people. This would help her decide whether this was the church God wanted her to attend. She’d prayed about it, but hadn’t sensed God’s answer. Women of various ages sat around a large table. Lizzie slid into a seat towards the side of the room, and the woman to her left gave her a smile.

“Hi. I’m Ronnie. I’ve never seen you here before.”

“I’m Lizzie. I’m new to this church . I was hoping to make some friends.”

“That’s wonderful.” Ronnie raised her voice to be heard over the multitude of conversations. “Ladies?”

One by one, the conversations dwindled until every set of eyes was trained on Ronnie. “We have a newcomer tonight. Let’s all introduce ourselves to Lizzie. I’ll go first.” Ronnie placed a hand on her chest as she spoke. “I’ve been part of this church for 15 years. I’m the head of the Christian Education Committee and make the major decisions on our children’s curriculum.” She pointed a hand to her left. “Let’s go around this way.”

The next woman down the line straightened in her chair. “I’m Melanie. We’ve been here for four years, and I am a homeschooling mom who is the head of the Christian homeschool coop. I’m in charge of all the important educational functions outside of the church.”

Along down the line it went. The next woman was the head of the ladies’ Bible study, while the next chaired the church finance committee. The next was the pastor’s wife, followed by the wife of the head of the missions committee.

Lizzie sank a little lower in her chair. Each woman declared the important positions she or her husband held in the church, and Lizzie felt more and more unworthy. All she wanted was to meet some Christian ladies and have fellowship while learning about the Bible. She’d only been a Christian for a short while and didn’t know nearly enough to hold any of these positions. Would she ever be good enough to be a true Christian?

As the time grew closer to her turn to introduce herself, she broke out into a cold sweat. What would these accomplished ladies think of her? Still, if nothing else, her Lord commanded her to be honest.

“I’m Lizzie. I only became a Christian a few months ago, and I’m looking for a church home. I was hoping to join a Bible study to get to know some ladies in this church.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place”, Ronnie said. “All the important women of leadership in this church are a part of this study. You’ll meet all the key people in this church. I expect you’ll have many of their names committed to memory by the end of the night. That’s important, since you have to know someone to get the right kind of treatment.”

Ronnie’s attitude caused Lizzie’s stomach to flip-flop. She was so unworthy of being a part of this group. She nodded at Ronnie who had moved to the Bible study portion of the evening. Sadly, Lizzie was too worked up to pay any attention to the verses. When the study ended and Ronnie closed in prayer, Lizzie slipped out of the room while everyone’s eyes were closed.

Lizzie hurried down the hall and ducked into her car, anxious to get away from where she clearly didn’t belong. She sat behind the steering wheel for a moment and sent up a prayer.

“God, I feel so unworthy. I want to serve You, but I don’t want to be the head of anything. All I want to do is love others in Your name.” She started the car and drove home, a heavy weight on her chest. She climbed the stairs to her apartment, flopped on her bed, and put on her headphones. She tuned to the Christian station. The sound of the DJ’s voice filled her ears.

“Have you ever felt unworthy?”

Lizzie straightened in her seat, all ears.

“That’s exactly when God can use you most. You know what’s the most vital characteristic of the effective Christian? Humility. If you puff yourself up and think you’re so important, God can’t use you. All God wants of you is a willing heart. That’s what this next song is all about.”

Tears filled Lizzie’s eyes as the beautiful melody spoke to her hurting heart. God gave her exactly the message she needed to hear tonight. Sure, it was great to do big things for God, and God called some to hold positions of leadership, but she didn’t have to be a great leader to serve the God she loved. She whispered a prayer of thanks to the God who reached down and told her exactly what she needed to know.

 James 2:3-8

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!

Lord, please help us keep a spirit of humility. No matter how much or how little we do in our lives, it is only through You that we can accomplish anything. Help us to be like Lizzie – a woman who only wants to serve You. It is only when we leave our pride at the door that You are able to use us. Thank You for the privilege of serving You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.