LeBron James

Millions of people were delighted to see the Miami Heat lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA finals. Even after their loss, Heat star LeBron James found it hard to be humble. He said that his critics would have to wake up the next day with their same lives and problems, but he would go on living just as he wanted. In response to James’ quote, Stephen Colbert said, “Like they say, it’s not whether you win or lose, but how you disparage the pathetic lives of the little people who make it possible for you to have a career bouncing an inflatable ball.”

The Bible has many warnings against pride and many exhortations to help the poor. Proverbs 16:18-19 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”  Proverbs 17:5 says, “He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker…”

It would be easy to join in with the many people who are deriding LeBron James. The harder thing would be to find some way to help a poor person today.