Humility

Humility

When we are climbing a mountain in our lives, it is very easy to have pride.  We often times find ourselves being proud of the fact that we are accomplishing something or just the simple fact that we are in the process of accomplishing something,which causes us to be proud.  We tend to scoff and laugh at those around us who are going a bit slower, we like to "honk" at those ahead of us to get out of our way, and every once in a while we look back with our religious pious attitudes and pity those who are not going as fast as we are. 

In the process of all of this climbing and overcoming, it never once occurs to us that it was not too long ago we were the ones in the same positions as the people that are behind us.  We forget that we are no better than the ones around us because we are all climbing the same mountain and running the same race.  We see those people ahead of us and we try even harder, we run faster, climb harder striving to overtake them because we think life is one big competition.  Our lives become very lonely and our hearts are hardened because we end up single-minded in our ways.   We think that the most important thing is to win the race and forget that all we have to do is do our best and finish the race or overcome the mountain God has given to us.  This hardening of our hearts causes us to block out the people around us, and this is very unfortunate because many of these people we block out are the ones that love and care about us the most. 

The Apostle Paul never said that he won the race, all he said was that he finished the race God told him to run.  Did Paul try his best and work his hardest?  Was there competition?  Were there times when people in front of him and behind him were trying to kill him?  Of course!  But it was an attitude that Paul developed and had throughout his years that helped him stay focused on track to finish. 

What was this attitude that he developed?  It was HUMILITY.   Paul in all his greatness and through all the mighty works, the sermons he preached, behind all his boldness and fearlessness was an understanding of something very important.  He understood that everything that he had and everything that he was could only be possible because of one reason and that is of course Jesus.  Why was Paul able to run his race with the power, strength and faith that he did?  Jesus.  How was Paul able to withstand persecutions?  Jesus  How did Paul overcome everything that he ever encountered?  Jesus.  Are you beginning to get my point now? 

Lets try another one then.   How was Paul able to love everyone around him?  The ones that could not stay with him and the people that were ahead of him, how was Paul able to love them?  Because he remembered a time in his life when he was in their shoes and yet Jesus loved him the same.  Paul never thought of himself to be BETTER than everyone else, he just realized that he was NO BETTER than everyone else.  Do you see the difference?  

Psalms 138

I WILL praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.  I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.  In the day when I cried out, you answered me and made me bold with strength in my soul.  All the kings of the earth shall praise You O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.  Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.  Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand will save me.  The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy O LORD endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.