GIFT OF HUMILITY
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”
Philippians 2:3 NIV
We live in a time when many of us try to project our pride in our community in various forms. We have our own Racial pride such as Euro pride, White pride, Black pride, Asian pride, and so on. We equally take offense when people say anything that goes against our pride. It could even be a statement from someone we respect deeply, who says we are being very snobbish. When words hurt us at our core, do we retaliate by cutting them off or even going to the extent of cursing them? Or do we extend a hand of friendship or ask for forgiveness for any misunderstanding?
Proverbs says that pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). What gives us self worth? Our achievements or God’s role in bringing us to where we are? It is much easier to recognize pride in another person than in ourselves. What are some of the ways pride is noticeable? Some clues are big headedness, conceit, condescension, disdain, overconfidence, egoism, haughtiness, pretension, self importance, self-love, snobbery, arrogance, boasting, and so on.
“Therefore, as the Scriptures say,
“If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.””
1 Corinthians 1:31
Proud people are rarely sorry for their mistakes and never ask for forgiveness. A proud person always boasts of what they can do. However, children of God boasts of what God has done for them (1Corinthians 1:31), and in their understanding of the example of Jesus Christ who has called us to be like Him. The proper attitude we should have toward God and one another is humility.
Humility is not to be timid, passive or weak, but to be meek like Moses who stepped down from the pomp and grandeur of Pharaoh's Palace, and became a slave like the rest the children of Israel. He identified himself with their lives and eventually saved them from their misery.
We may not realize the influence that humility plays in our lives. The Latin word for humility is from “hummus” which means “earth”. Just as the earth is below us, humility is calling us to come down to earth. False pride places everybody and everything beneath them. When we come down to earth and accept that God is in control of all our lives and everything else; we are able to influence one another by the power of the Holy Spirit who moves in and around us.
Pride leads us to conflict (Proverbs 13:10). The best way is to restore the broken relationships, by apologizing, forgiving or serving the needs of those we come in conflict with. If we are expecting something in return, it only cheapens the grace we are called to extend (1Peter5:5). Let the price of humility we show and the grace we extend be at a high cost. Let us with grace extend this Gift of Humility to one another. It may even amount to giving joyfully a gift that we may not even be thanked for, but will surely be blessed by God.
We follow our Lord and Savior who said we are called to be last of all and servant all (Luke 22:26). Let us show our gratitude with the right attitude of humility. On Ash Wednesday we place the ashes of repentance on our foreheads as a mark that says, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19)”. Starting this Lenten season let us feast on humility and fast on pride till one day we return to the earth; out of which the Father of the human race, Adam was taken.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Prayer:
Lord Jesus you humbled yourself because you love us. You died for us so that we can be forgiven and be part of your kingdom. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Fill us with your love for one another that we may humbly understand and care for the needs of those around us. Amen.
