Humility

Humility, some are born with it the rest have to learn it, usually the hard way.  When I think of the humble people in my life, I notice one common trait they have.  They love God.  They decided to put him first.  The non-humble people decided to put themselves first. 

I like to do my own personal studies of human nature.  I guess you can say I am a people watcher.  Whether I'm sitting on a park bench at a public venue, reading how people portray themselves on social media, or just listening and watching how people interact with each other.  I have even caught myself reviewing how I dealt with a certain situation.  Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

To be transparent, I believe I am one who had to learn humility.  My parents are humble, but it seems to be the one thing they could not teach me.  Life taught me.  You see, humility is mentioned several times in the Bible.  God seems to appreciate the person who can be humble because those are the people with whom he can more easily work.  Have you ever tried to work with someone who was not humble?  They know it all, they know more than you do, they don't trust or believe anything anyone else says.  It seems like they were born all-knowing! 

Humble people on the other hand, maintain a teachable spirit.  They may know what you are talking about, but they listen anyway.  It's not that they want you to stumble or that they appreciate you showing off, they just know, or have learned how to sit quietly until it is their turn.  And when it is their turn, they take their turn with class.  Humble people sometimes protect others from themselves.  I will let you think about that. 

I heard a pastor tell a story recently.  He was just starting out in his ministry and had a small congregation.  He and some of his leaders invited a well-known man to come and speak to his congregation.  They invited people from all around, posted fliers, everyone anticipated hearing from this man.  The day before he was supposed to go to speak, he called the pastor and asked him how big his congregation was.  When the pastor told him, he told the pastor the congregation was too small and that he had changed his mind.  The pastor tried to get him to change his decision but he would not.  When everyone showed up, they were told that the speaker would not be there.  I can imagine how he felt.  He did not tell them why.  He protected this speaker from himself.

From all accounts, God dealt with this man.  He ended up losing his wealth, his wife, his social standing.  He talked about it years later and it so happens the pastor was in attendance to hear this man give the account of how he lost everything.  If we do not learn humility, God will teach it to us.  I don't know about you, but I would rather learn it on my own. 

I don't believe humility is always easy, but I believe it's the best course of action.  If we stop trying to fix things, fix people, fix situations, and allow God to work, it is amazing the outcome we will see.  I have noticed in my life that humility works much better than not.  I have come to appreciate the trait some people so naturally have.  It has protected me from silly arguments, bad decisions, and a quick tongue.  It has allowed me to let go and let God.  Trust me, it's amazing the way God fixes things when we humble ourselves before Him an let him work.

'Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.'  Daniel 10:12.