Humility

Philippians 2:3(HCSB) - Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

All men are tempted to take a census—that is, to number their own virtues, graces, accomplishments, resources, and thus draw the heart away from God. But what ground can there be for our counting or for our pride? Are we proud of our talents? But what have we that we have not received from God? Are we proud of our wisdom or knowledge? A brick falls on our head, a machine strikes us on the street, and then where is the vaunted knowledge of the mind? Are we proud of our beauty? A wasting sickness smites us, and then where is beauty? Are we proud of our riches? A revolution breaks out in the country, and then what are our riches?

As we take a census of our virtues, let us remember these lines of William Knox, which were so often upon the lips of Abraham Lincoln:

Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-flitting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
He passes from life to his rest in the grave.

It was John Riskin who said, "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion. But really great men have a ... feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them." Andrew Murray said, "The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before him. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten because ... he has received the spirit of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, and who sought not His own honor. Therefore, in putting on the Lord Jesus Christ he has put on the heart of compassion, kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and humility." M.R. De Haan used to say, "Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have."

Scott Forsythe