Humility

"Oh God, it’s hard to be humble!" That’s how we feel when people appreciate us and we are on the top of the world. It’s true we all go through these feelings when there are not many who come close to our achievements considering the circumstances we came from. Jesus says in Luke14:11 about the guests who chose the places of honor, that he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. It is better to be humble and if God sees the need to exalt we will be honored. 

 In Numbers 12:3 it is written that there was no one more humble than Moses in the entire world. Yet Miriam, who set her baby brother afloat on the river Nile to protect him from being killed by the Egyptian soldiers, was over come with jealousy when Moses became a celebrity as the leader of the people of Israel. Miriam and Aaron felt insecure that there was too much praise going to Moses. We feel slighted when our work goes unrecognized or someone younger is given the role to be leader over us. 

 This criticism by Miriam offended God. He raised Moses on a pedestal and said that he spoke through visions and dreams to his prophets but to his servant Moses he spoke face to face. It is clear that Moses’ distinguished service to the living God had won his admiration. Miriam gets struck by leprosy and the one who is very upset is none other than Moses who pleads for her healing. 

 We see God humbling Miriam and raising Moses above them all as a leader. This brings home to us that just because God speaks through us it does not make us very special. We need to be humble and accept the fact that there are some whom God has set as our leaders or shepherds and who may have a much deeper relationship with God. Beware of feelings that drive us to be much-admired and of dreams of greatness. They usually lead to frustration and disappointment. 

 Being humble does not mean that we should have low self esteem. In 1Corinthians 15:10 Paul gives us insight into what is a healthy self esteem. It is one that by the grace of God the Spirit of Christ in us makes us do all things that are possible. In Galatians 6:14 he says "let me boast in nothing but the cross of Jesus". He says that all his interest to make himself righteous in the eyes of the world died long time ago. It doesn't matter if he has not conformed to all the traditions that is required of him. What matters most is his change into a new creation and whether the Spirit of Christ dwells in him.

All our efforts to be righteous have no significance if our hearts and minds are not right with God. We have to heed the advice of Christ who says in Mathew 26:41 that we must watch and pray in all circumstances because though the spirit is willing, our heart, mind and body may lead us away from the right course of action. Jeremy Taylor in his book on Holy Living says that humility is a gift from God, but it is increased by exercising it. 

When we feel overcome with pride, the traditional Jesus Prayer “Lord have mercy on me a sinner”, a letter of appreciation to someone who greatly helped us overcome a weakness, or words of praise to a person who depends on us are all effective ways of diverting attention away from one's own high self esteem.