My eyes were heavy and my family was in the car. I had been working full-time in my business while driving over an hour one way to our new church plant.

I was in my thirty’s, felt invincible and had been squeezing in preparation to preach and teach three times each Sunday and then again on Wednesdays.

I took my role as pastor/teacher very seriously and when I got in the pulpit, I was intense.

Too intense and taking myself way too seriously.

I was exhausted and too proud to admit it.

Then it happened.

We spent some family time together after a busy Sunday morning and were headed back for the evening service. I was so sleepy that I stopped for a bottle of Coca Cola.

It helped.

So, I stopped again for another one.

Bad idea.

Right in the middle of preaching a “serious” point (and without warning) the loudest, longest, most shame-inducing noise came out of my mouth.

No words, just a foul belch.

Stunned and speechless, I looked at those in attendance and couldn’t tell whose eyes were bigger, theirs, mine or my wife and children’s!

We were all pretty serious about being in church, but you should have seen the look on their faces.

You should have seen mine!

If you were me, what would you have done?

Exactly. I laughed. They started it, but I jumped right in!

I think God laughed too.

Like He did when He saw the look on Peter’s face when he thought he knew more about fishing than Jesus and nearly lost his net and boat after begrudgingly yielding.

Seriously Peter?

And Naaman who was angry over dipping seven times in Jordan because he was too proud only to come up out of that water healed. But only after being talked into it.

He was so serious he almost missed a very significant moment.

And who could forget Baalam? Called out by a donkey when trying to force an outcome he already knew was outside God’s expressed word.

When you take yourself too seriously God just might make you look a little silly.

But sometimes it isn’t so funny.

Like when you’re far more present with your phone than your family or friends.

Or when chasing the dream leads you farther away from those who matter most.

For others, it’s when the people God blessed you with get in the way of the productivity you’re obsessed with and it’s making you mad – at them.

Like me, what comes out of your mouth next might be the thing God uses to show you that you’re taking yourself too seriously.

Here’s a few verses to help (Gal. 6:3, 1 Cor 10:12, 1 Cor 3:18).

So, here’s my question for you:

Where are you taking yourself or your success a little too seriously and need a good laugh before it’s too late? I’d love to hear your reply. Share your thoughts with me; I read every response.

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🧔🏻‍♂️For the men in your life. This is a good place for men to open up. I’ve been a part of this ministry to men for a while and highly recommend it.

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