Humility

September 8

(Luke 20:45-47 NIV) ““While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, {46} “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. {47} They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.””

(Luke 14:7-11 NIV)  "When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: {8} "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. {9} If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. {10} But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. {11} For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.""

Two different cancers can grow in the Christian heart: lack of humility and false humility. Both originate in pride. Jesus faced many teachers of the law who loved their places of honor and their flowing robes. It can get heady when you always sit at the head table. Lengthy prayers, flowery oration, and the power to get people’s money are not why God created the priesthood. The other cancer grows in those who are constantly assuring themselves, and us, of their humility. They make a show of their humility so everyone will know just how humble they are. They are humble and proud of it. These two attitudes are two sides of the same counterfeit coin. Genuine humility is marked, not by self-awareness, but by a heightened “other-awareness”. Jesus didn’t spend His time in front of a mirror. Instead, He was constantly looking around for those who needed their feet washed. That’s humility! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day