“Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others
better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others”
Philippians: 2.3-4
better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others”
Philippians: 2.3-4
This Blog from the CS Lewis Institute will help you reflect on how well God is building Christlikeness into you.
Augustine
of Hippo said that, for those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the
first thing, the second thing and the third thing. Eleven hundred years later,
Martin Luther, when asked to name the three greatest virtues replied, “First,
humility; second, humility and third, humility.” These are but two of the many
great leaders who have stressed the importance of humility in the believer’s
life.
What
is humility? Surprisingly, it is not a poor self-image, nor a denial of one’s
gifts, abilities and accomplishments. C.S. Lewis describes humility not as
having a low opinion of one’s talents and character but rather as
self-forgetfulness. This
entails a radical honesty with ourselves about ourselves that begins to free us
from the denials, pretences, and false images with which we deceive ourselves.
Thus, John Wesley could describe humility as “. . . . a right judgment of
ourselves which cleanses our minds from those high conceits of our own
perfections, from the undue opinions of our own abilities and attainments . . .
. .”2
Paul
calls us to this honesty when he says “For by the grace given me I say to
every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but
rather think of yourself with sober judgment . . . (Ro. 12.3). In other
words, sober realism about who we are, what we are, and from Whom our gifts and
abilities ultimately come is essential to developing humility. This comes as we
invite the Holy Spirit, working through the Holy Scriptures, to search and
illuminate truth and apply it to our hearts and minds. As we begin to come to
terms with ourselves, good and bad, strengths and weaknesses, we can move beyond
preoccupation with self to loving care and concern for our neighbor.
For
more:
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