Humilityናሙና

Knowing our place

If ever we find ourselves boasting about our humility, we have to admit something has gone seriously wrong! True humility involves not being conscious of our being humble. It is a mistake to think that humility means bringing ourselves down and groveling in the gutter of self-loathing.

Humility is all about having a realistic estimation of who we are. That means we won’t get all puffed up at how virtuous we are. We all fall short of God’s standards. No one gains friendship with God by his or her own merits.

Then again, we shouldn’t see ourselves as mere nothings. We are God’s creations, Jesus died for us, and the Spirit of God longs to live in us. We do have talents, we can bless others, we are capable of goodness. It is false and irritating modesty to see ourselves as having no use or value. Our maker certainly doesn’t see us like that. We are people of great value, we matter, and we have a part to play. But we are not the only people who matter, and the part we play is not the only part. In the end, humility comes not from bringing ourselves down, but from lifting God up. As we confront His holiness and goodness we become aware of not only our great value to Him but how far short we fall of His perfect standards.

It means knowing our place. Not as the king of the castle. Nor as the forlorn beggar at the castle gate. Humility is having a proper and realistic view of where we stand in relation to God and others.

Written by DAVID REAY