James 5:17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

The remarkable thing about this verse is the reminder that Elijah was “just like us.” Elijah was one of the greatest of the prophets, right up there with Moses, to the point that he was there on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, (Luke 9:28-36) but at the same time he was just like us. That reality is driven home by the fact that at one point he was suicidally depressed. (1 Kings 19:3-4) We see people in the Bible, in history, even around us today, who seem very great, and we think we could never be like them. When that happens, we are forgetting that their power, their ability, comes from God, and He is just as available to us as to them. The more we focus on ourselves, the less we will accomplish that is of any value. The more we focus on God, the more available we will be for Him to do whatever He likes through us. The danger comes when, after God does do good things through us, we start taking credit for those things ourselves. People will praise us, and we believe them! In a way it is analogous to a musical instrument. By itself, it is silent. If a novice tries it, the result might be no more than noise. If a virtuoso uses it, the results are sublime. The instrument needs to be well made and well tuned, but even a cheap instrument can make beautiful music in the hands of a master. Elijah was mightily used by the Lord, but as James said, he was just as human as we are. The more we focus on our Lord and not ourselves, the more His character will shine through us for His glory.

As I have written many times before, I have struggled with pride all my life. The Lord has been more than gracious toward me, giving me many “natural abilities” and allowing me to exercise them, and I have fallen into the trap of taking credit for them more times than I could count. Jesus’ words are a strong caution to me: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) Everything I have, whether it be abilities or insights or material resources, is by the grace of God, and is to be used at His direction and pleasure. I am as human as Elijah, and he was as human as I am. God can use me just as He did Elijah, but that will happen only if my focus is on Him and not on myself.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the many ways You have used me, and for Your plans for my future. Help me not push myself forward, but always be available to You for however You want to use me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!