Skip to main content

Humble Yourselves

             Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)

 

C. S. Lewis wrote that humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. I both agree and disagree with this. I agree that thinking less of yourself is still focusing on yourself, so it’s not being humble. However, I’ve heard a story about some men who were so determined not to look at a woman and lust that they blindfolded themselves or closed their eyes rather than looking – and walked into walls or fell downstairs. If you don’t think of yourself at least a little, you will likely do yourself harm.

So, one can be humble and consider the fact that it’s been some time since breakfast, and lunch might be a good idea. One can be humble and recognize that the cut on one’s arm needs attention. One can also recognize these same things in someone else, and one is humble if one thinks of both in the same manner. Someone can also consider one’s own ability to hit a series of notes in comparison with someone else and recognize that one either does so better or not as well – and if one doesn’t perceive oneself as better or worse than the other as a result, one is humble. When the estimation of talent/skill is wrong or when value and status are connected to the judgment, trouble begins.

            Sadly, trouble with ego sneaks in even when you’re trying to do good. Let's just say that I feel compelled to step in when there is (in my opinion) a problem, especially if no one else seems to be doing so. "Sigh, I guess it's up to me to try to save the day/fix the problem/work things out..." That's not humbleness.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Pure...

            The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Timothy 1:5)   I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16) I’m probably cheating - or mishandling the Bible, but earlier I was thinking about love being pure and purifying. And hatred being pure and purifying. And anger…joy…patience… fear… jealousy… courage…lust… and other strongly felt feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. Today’s verse brings purity and love together, so it’s the verse of the day, but it’s not really the focus. That means my motive for sharing it with you probably isn’t pure. As you read through my list, you   probably thought, “Yeah” about some, and “What’s she on?” about others. But consider how much hatred, a...
Post a Comment
Read more