The Blessing of Humility

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 1:37 pm Post subject: The Blessing of Humility

The Blessing of Humility

Scripture:

My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not. The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise. Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.
(Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29)

For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched and a burning fire and a whirlwind and darkness and storm, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which they that had excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them.

But you are come to mount Sion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels, and to the church of the firstborn who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaks better than that of Abel.

(Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24)

And it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them: When you are invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honorable than you be invited by him: And he that invited you and him, come and say to you: Give this man place. And then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you: Friend, go up higher. Then shall you have glory before them that sit at table with you. Because every one that exalts himself shall be humbled: and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. And he said to him also that had invited him: When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends nor your brethren nor your kinsmen nor your neighbors who are rich; lest perhaps they also invite you again, and a recompense be made to you. But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. And you shall be blessed, because they have not wherewith to make recompense to you: for recompense shall be made you at the resurrection of the just.
(Luke 14:1, 7-14)

Reflection:

We are who God made us, but how we present ourselves, how we engage others, is a choice. Though we may be blessed with any number of talents, we must remember, there are always those with talents beyond ours or those who have talents which we do not have. As our days progress, our abilities and our physical being and our environment changes, which means, who we are and what we are able to do within this world will change as well. In a moment, we may raise from obscurity or fail miserably in the light of public scrutiny. The greater our arrogance, the harder we shall fall as we fade from our prime and the feats of our past.

We must be confident in our faith and in the ways we engage those who surround us, but we must avoid arrogance and self-righteousness for which some confuse as confidence. One may be confident while approaching others with humility, civility, dignity, and respect. Indeed, it is humility which enables confidence, for the humble heart contains the strength and courage which the arrogant heart lacks. The arrogant lash out from their insecurities, while the humble confidently encourages those who surround them and offers blessings to even those who would persecute them and do them evil.

Humility is not about self, but it requires confidence in self. Humility recognizes we do not have all knowledge or all gifts, but the trust that God spread out the talents of His creation so that we might work together, sharing of our talents along the way, so that His will might be done. Humility is not about what honors or accolades are received, but about the peace and blessings shared with surrounding hearts. The humble recognize the honor and accolades due another, and give of it freely, but do not dwell on what the arrogant withhold from those who labor in humility. The humble are not fueled by their position or power, but by their relationship with their Creator. Though they are reluctant to reveal it, even the most arrogant shall marvel at the determined, confident, yet peaceful heart of the truly humble.

Humility allows us to navigate relationships in a manner which sows and nurtures the blessings of love. As we share humbly with others, we offer blessings and encouragement. Though the humble may achieve through their talents, they recognize that whatever is accomplished by them is not possible without what God has placed within them first; and so, they remember to give thanks and praise for the blessings imparted upon them by their Creator.

The arrogant and insecure of heart calculate their actions by what approval and honors shall be showered upon them. While it is not wrong to receive distinctions and laurels, the humble heart does not calculate their efforts based upon what they shall receive, but by what is right and just. Their incentive is not by what fame they may receive within the world, but by what they shall share within the kingdom of heaven.

Let us remember, the talents our Lord has placed within us are for a purpose. We are but the stewards of His gifts; therefore let us ask God to help us see the gifts and talents He has placed within us and the opportunities we have so that they may be put to His will. Let us not calculate our choices by what honors we shall receive, but by what we may do to help fulfill His will. Let us not seek the laurels of the world, but pray that as we stand before Jesus, He will quietly say within our hearts, ?Well done my good and faithful servant.?

Questions for further reflection:

What are the gifts and talents God has placed within our stewardship and to what purpose does He desire we put them so that His will may be done?

In what ways do we approach the only begotten Son of God and how does He teach us to approach one another?

In what ways may we share beyond those with whom we are most comfortable?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier