Happenings 12 September 2019

I think it was C.S. Lewis who said, “Humility is not thinking less about yourself; it is thinking about yourself less.” Over the years, I have found this quote helpful, both because it challenges the obvious sin of pride, but also the more hidden sin of ‘false humility’. Pride wishes to garner the attention or praise of other people – to be the focus of other people’s admiration. We’ve all seen it in others and, at times, also in ourselves! But ‘false humility’ often flies under the radar, so to speak. False humility is notputting ourselves into places of prominence and notstepping into areas of influence because of fear of what other people might think or say. As we would say in our fair country … an avoidance of the ‘tall poppy syndrome’! The problem with this is that God may very well be asking us intoplaces of input, leadership or into roles that call us to be visible, and if we hide behind the label of ‘humility’, we are actually disobeying him. We are robbing the world around us of contributions that, perhaps, only we could have made. False humility is just pride in disguise, since in both expressions, the opinions of other people are ultimately calling the shots. I love a small sentence found in the gospel of John. While in Jerusalem, Jesus was suddenly the focus of people’s adulation and attention. His response? ‘But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people’ (John 2:24). He wasn’t looking to the opinions of others, whether they be good and bad. Instead, he was thinking about obedience to his father, or in Lewis’ terms, ‘thinking about himself less.’ Don’t let pride sway you. But equally important, don’t let false humility keep you from living out God’s purpose for your life!

In Him,
Murray