The Blessings of Humility

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:33 pm Post subject: The Blessings of Humility

The Blessings 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:

Ambition is not wrong in and of itself, but it is the purpose which it harbors which may bless or damage the soul. Those who are ambitious to give glory to God, tend to the sick, care for the poor and share in the blessings of love, do well and good as long as their purpose is for the love of God and the love of one another. (Matthew 7:12, 22:36-40, Luke 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-2 Cool

Should their purpose turn to personal gain and celebrity, they store nothing up within their heart. They only go through the motions of goodness for what may be expected to earn a position within the world, but those important in their own eyes fail to realize what they squander in their efforts of personal gain. Should they turn, instead, their hearts to the work of God, they will store up eternal treasures which cannot be measured by the ways of the world.

There are those who find their way to positions to which many shall bow, but we should all remember that to God, whether celebrity or beggar, we are His children and loved by Him. He does not favor based on position. It is within His power to bring low the haughty and raise up the humble. (Luke 1:52) It is better, then, not to seek to lord ourselves over one another, rather, we should seek to serve just as Jesus came to serve. He taught us that true greatness comes not from the products of selfish ambition or what others do for us, but what we may do for others. (Matthew 20:25-26) Let us, then, seek humility in our efforts and not concern ourselves with who may be more important than another, for what is pleasing to God is what we do for the least among us. (Matthew 25:40)

Jesus told his disciples, "You call me Master, and Lord; and you say well, for so I am. If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash the feet of one another. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also." (John 13:13-15) Through His example, Jesus taught us that what we humbly do for one another does not come from our position or wealth within the world, but from what is within our heart. Even the poorest among us may offer a hand of kindness which will bring joy to the heart of Jesus.

From the early days of mankind, our arrogance and envy have been the cause of hate and the shedding of blood. The blood of Abel cried out to God from the ground; blood spilled by an act of evil jealousy. (Genesis 4:10) So, too, was the blood of Jesus spilled by those who sought to protect their position within the world. The blood of Abel cried out to God to reveal the wages of evil and injustice. Though the blood of Jesus was also unjustly spilled, it cries out, not for vengeance, but for the salvation of all who believe in Him. It is the sacrifice offered in atonement for their sins. It is the blood shed for our salvation. Those whose robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb will be allowed to enter into His kingdom where love is shared by all and evil is not allowed to follow. If we understand what was done for us from upon the cross, then, we should offer, humbly in prayer, thanks and praise for the salvation offered to us despite our sins.

It is not wrong to seek positions of leadership, power or to accept positions of prestige; but again, it is the purpose to which we put such opportunities which shall wash over our soul. If we take the gift of such positions and follow the example of His Word, we will seek not to be served, but to serve and to do what is right and just for even the least among us. We will seek blessings for others rather than reward for ourselves. The reward of which we should be concerned should not be what we may receive from the world, but that which may only come from God.

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