One of my favorite repetitive television scenes involved “Mr. Ayyy,” who wore the black leather coat of cool.

Arthur Fonzarelli (The Fonz/Fonzie) on rare occasion – when he was inaccurate – would say “I was wrrrr…” Some time would pass, and he would try again, “I wasssss wwwrrr…”

He could not muster the fortitude to admit when he fell short.

Humility didn’t fit him too well. If our day and age cries out, it cries out for fame, for self-promotion, for more than Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes.

All the while, we destroy ourselves and our relationships.

I preached at Urbana Methodist recently and my sermons was entitled “The Sad American Dream.”  By definition ”The American Dream” — the term was introduced in 1931 by James Truslow Adams — speaks to us making much of self.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is about making much of Him. Earth, we have a problem!

This is sin, in essence, or actually in full embodiment.

Pride is the root of all sin. 

• I know better than God.
• I trust me, more than I trust Him.
• He doesn’t have my best interests in mind.
• I must be in control.

I know where I fall short. There is not a day that goes by, when I don’t recognize as the early disciples and followers of Jesus did, that “He must increase, I must decrease.”

I see three ways (and there are much more, but that’s for later) where folks struggle relationally and humility is a direct result as to why.

Minimal Teammates = They tend to play or fly solo.  Solo sports better suit them, because team sports hinder, hold back.  Or maybe they hinder and hold back.  They don’t play well in the sandbox.
Lifeless Words = Encouragement is not found coming from their mouths. They live in fear of building others up, because that may cost them.
Lowly Tasks = Jobs that are seen below them are for someone else. Why do what someone beneath them can do.

If you lack humility, you’ll struggle in those three areas.  Your roles, relationships, and words will speak to this.

And you certainly, will struggle, saying when you are “wwwrrrrr…”