In graduate school I was asked to define humility in my own words. That means that I can't steal Paul's words in Phil. where he describes Jesus taking on the very nature of a servant and humbling himself to death on a cross. It also means I can't steal C.S. Lewis' words where he said that Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's thinking about yourself less. And it also means that I shouldn't use the story about the boat and ballast again, because I ripped that off of John Piper (who in turn, most likely ripped it off of someone else).
No I had to put it into my own words. And here it is. I believe that humility is seeing yourself ACCURATELY.
I think everyone knows that it is not humble to think better of yourself than you deserve. But can it be just as wrong to think less of yourself than what you deserve? If the God of the universe wants to say that I'm gifted at something, who am I to disagree? If the Lord made someone pretty darn good looking, why would they pretend that they weren't? Is it humble to think that I can mess up what God intended to be good? Do I think that I can be SO screwed up that God can't use me or that my skills, talents, qualities, or gifts are anything less than what He intended them to be?
You would probably be quick to point out (accurately) that I am missing something here. When we say things like "good looking" or "talented" we mean in comparison to other people right? I'm pretty sure that you (steve) have told us in the past not to compare.
Well you're right. The only person you should compare yourself to is God. Turns out, you will NOT stack up, because you are a pathetic sinner, and you will realize that you are totally dependent supplicant relying on grace. But in His goodness, God allowed you to have some sparks of light and personhood that show that to Him, at least, you are well worth redeeming. And that's an accurate view of yourself. One cannot HAVE an accurate view of oneself unless it is in a context that also includes God.
The book I'm reading Steward Leadership talks about how the Devil is very satisfied if he is able to make us think more of ourselves or less of ourselves than we ought to. Pride is great for Satan, but so is self deprecation and lack of self worth. In fact, anything that he can do to through us off our game works for him. So we need to keep looking in the mirror.
What is a spiritual mirror you ask? Perhaps God, Perhaps the Bible, Perhaps prayer...I'm not sure. What do you think?
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