Crabs in a Pail
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
- Matthew 23:12
A fisherman who caught crabs would keep them in a bucket without a lid. Someone noticed this and asked him, "Don't you have to keep a lid on that bucket?"
He said, "No, they never get out."
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"Why? Because they can't get out?"
"No," he said. "When one crab tries to go over the side, the others reach up and pull him back down again."
That is just like human beings as well. As one person begins to climb, others are thinking, How dare you succeed? How dare you do better than me? How dare you get that promotion? How dare you get that attention? How dare you do well when I'm not doing just as well? You get back down here with me!
It has been said that envy shoots at another and wounds itself. This is so true. Envy can eat us up inside. We need to recognize it as sin and repent of it. We may try and rationalize our jealousy, but we need to realize it is wrong and ask God to forgive us. God wants us to put the needs of others above our own, love one another, and care for one another. This is so very important.
Instead of worrying about what other people have, let's be thankful we are even drawing breath in our lungs. It is a gift from God. And if God lifts you to an exalted position, then that is His grace. If He lifts up someone else, that also is His grace. None of us deserve it; it is all the grace of God. Just be faithful to what God has called you to do.
