The disciples of John the Baptist were concerned that more people were starting to follow Jesus instead of John:

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” (John 3:26)

Do we at times become concerned because others are gaining more notoriety than us? John refused to enter a popularity contest and he wisely acknowledged the sovereignty of God:

John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” (John 3:27)

John had told his disciples that he was not the Messiah, but was a forerunner to prepare the way. John was not the bridegroom, but he was a friend of the groom who rejoiced at Jesus’ increasing popularity. Do we desire that people notice us rather than Jesus? We must realize that we are merely the attendants and our role is to point people to Jesus. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but it is thinking of yourself less. We are to think with sound judgment:

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

Pride can be insidious and we must realize the weakness of our flesh and the relentless attacks of the devil and his minions:

Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

John gave us a strategy to keep us from succumbing to jealousy and insecurity:

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

The word must is in the present tense and denotes an ongoing divine necessity. The word order is significant – the more we focus on Jesus, then we will gain an appreciation for His greatness and we gain a right perspective or ourselves. Knowing God makes us humble and knowing ourselves keeps us humble. Thomas à Kempis in The Imitation of Christ applied this principle to our relationships, “Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” The better we know ourselves, the less we’ll criticize others.

If we are to boast, the Apostle Paul told us to make our boast in the Lord:

But the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

Our purpose is to magnify our Savior. Andrew Murray wisely observed, “If I am something, then God is not everything; but when I become nothing, God can become all.”