Gus gave the toy chest one last buffing to make the wood glow, then stepped back to survey his work. Yes, this would serve his pastor’s family well for years to come.
He’d put all his expertise as a cabinetmaker into creating the handsome yet sturdy toy chest. But when Gus and his wife delivered the gift to Rev. Peterson, they received apologies and regret.
“Oh, Gus—this is absolutely beautiful!” their pastor cried. “You must have spent hours laboring over it, and I thank you with all my heart, but . . . this is so embarrassing.
“I never intended for you to invest so much time when I asked you to throw together a box for the accumulating toys. You’ve given us a piece of furniture! How can we thank you enough for such a gift?”
“You have to understand,” responded Gus’s wife. She lovingly reached out to touch her husband’s arm. “Gus is a cabinetmaker. He could never, as you say, ‘throw a box together.’ His pride would not permit it.”
His pride would not permit it.
Some might read that statement and wonder, Should Gus be prideful of his work? Doesn’t pride go before destruction and precede disgrace (Proverbs 16:18; 11:2)?
A quick check in a thesaurus helps settle the question.
First, pride can mean arrogance, self-importance, and self-glorification, which the Bible does warn against.
But pride can also take the form of pleasure, joy, and satisfaction.
That’s the kind of pride Gus experienced, creating the best toy chest his skills could produce, resulting in a satisfying sense of achievement.
Is this type of pride mentioned in the Bible? Yes!
Remember when God surveyed his creation? What did he think about his work? Did he say, “Well, I guess that will do.”
NO! “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, emphasis added). He acknowledged the worth of his work and took pride—delight and satisfaction– in what he’d accomplished.
God also inspired King Solomon to write:
And what did God say about Jesus after his baptism? “This is my Son . . . with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
That sounds similar to what parents say as their children demonstrate honorable character or achieve success in an endeavor.
Only instead of saying, “We are well pleased with you,” Mom and Dad declare, “We’re so proud of you!” Different words; same meaning.
In fact, the apostle Paul expressed such satisfaction in the church at Corinth, writing, “I take great pride in you” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
Of course, even a healthy satisfaction in character-growth, spiritual maturity, or other achievement can slide into arrogance and self-glorification if we’re not careful.
So what might help us maintain wholesome pride and avoid the harmful variety?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Acknowledge the work of God in our lives. Everything does come from him (James 1:17).
- Be satisfied our Audience of One sees our efforts; avoid seeking accolades from others (Matthew 6:1).
- Be wary also of self-deprecation. We are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 4:10); we’ve been amazingly and miraculously made (Psalm 139:18). Take delight in that!
- Learn humility; resist arrogant thoughts (Philippians 2:3-4).
- Turn to God frequently, praying for his empowerment to do what’s right, even when no one sees (Isaiah 40:29-31); understand that prideful self-glorification results in turning away from God (Psalm 10:4).
Most of us have never heard of Gus, the builder of that exceptional toy chest. But it’s probable you know of his pastor, Eugene H. Peterson, author of many books and The Message, a modern paraphrase of the Bible.
Peterson shared about Gus in his book, Run with the Horses* (the story embellished a bit in this post).
He included the observation: “That toy box has been in our family for over fifty years now and rebukes me whenever I am tempted to do hasty or shoddy work of any kind” (183).
Gus taught his young pastor to take pride in his work. And Peterson took that lesson to heart.
For all the subsequent decades of his ministry, Peterson pursued excellence in the sermons he preached, the books he wrote, and the leadership he provided, impacting thousands.
It’s likely Gus never realized what an important role he played. I think he would’ve been OK with that.
His healthy pride was enveloped in holy humility.
*published by InterVarsity Press, 2009.
Image credits: http://www.pexels.com (Tima Miroshichenko); http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.easy-peasy.ai; http://www.canva.com (2).
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This is a lovely story about the toy chest and the meaningful message it conveys. Thanks, Nancy! 🙂
I thought so too, Nancy. It encouraged me to know that satisfaction in achievement was not the same as sinful pride. As Christians, we still strive for excellence–all the more so because our labor has eternal value.
Thanks, Nancy! The distinction between the two definitions is so little understood anymore.
We should all try to do everything to the glory of God giving it our best. This story is a great reminder of that! Thanks for sharing his story. I am always amazed at the quality and scope of work Eugene Peterson accomplished in his lifetime.
🤗🙏✝️🙏
Very helpful reminder that we can enjoy satisfaction from a job well done with God’s help and blessing. It honors the God who helped us to delight in what he did through us. Great article! Thank you!