Appendix 6. No One Can Lift Their Head

No one can lift their head before God. However much they have prayed, however many gifts they have received, however much they have given in offerings, even if they have been martyred, no one can lift their head before God. Yet we see people who think they have prayed a great deal, in their own way, lift their heads before God and treat believers carelessly. When someone gives a little more in offerings at church than others, the way they look at the poor changes, and they judge and criticize them rashly. On what grounds? On their own thinking. In my thinking… as I see it… they are gripped by the thought that they have done more than that person. The unhappy thing, though, is whether God sees it that way. God will surely tell them that it is only their own thinking.

No one can lift their head before God. Even the elders before the throne take off their crowns and lay them before the throne, so what can be said of people who live with their feet planted on this earth? We must be lowly! We must be humble! We must think that, in God, our brothers and sisters are wiser than we are, have more faith, and are more faithful servants. Only then can we come one step closer to God. I hope you will throw away the thought that you can do something. There is nothing in this world of God’s work that I can do by thinking it up and doing it in my own strength. It is joining in where God is at work, and that is why, even if you have given your life to God, you cannot lift your head.