Character of Humility

This is one of those characteristics that has been confusing for some people...because on the one hand the Bible says... "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (Romans 12:3). And then in Mark 12: 30-31 30 we are instructed... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 

Love your neighbor as yourself...self love is important...important enough that God included it along with loving Him with all your heart...and saying "there is no commandment greater than these."  So I'm going to use one of my husband's favorite words here..."balance".  You have to have balance...don't think more of yourself than you ought to and love yourself so that you can love others.  Getting this out of balance can be disastrous for you.

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A good way to look at being humble is a quote from Benjamin Franklin that says "“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.”  I think being humble is having a serving attitude...serving others in whatever capacity that is needed at the moment.  We do this with our bosses in most cases out of respect and honor for their position.  We help our co workers and friends because it is just a nice thing to do.  When you help those that are not as fortunate as you...it is considered noble...because you could just as easily drive by that gal selling the homeless newspapers...but you don't.  Give her more than she requires...serve her in this way.

True humility is the total opposite of pride and arrogance...you cannot have those attitudes in your life and treat others the way you should.  We need to learn from what has happened in our lives and keep pride from ever sneaking in to do damage.

This quote sums up what I'm trying to say.  “True humility is intelligent self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.” Ralph W Sockman

What's that word again?  Balance!

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