What A Life

One of the worst things that could happen to an airplane traveler is to arrive at the airport and find out that your flight has been cancelled.

Passengers usually have to stand in long lines trying to get booked on another flight. When this happened to one man, he became increasingly annoyed and angry. He impulsively marched to the counter and demanded a first-class ticket on the next available flight.

“Sorry,” said the woman at the counter, “but I must serve the people in turn.”

The irate customer banged his fist on the counter and hollered, “Have you any idea who I am?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the lady picked up the microphone and announced, “There’s a gentleman here who does not know who he is. If anyone in the airport can identify him, please come to the counter.”

The people waiting in line burst into applause, while the line jumper experienced one of the most embarrassing moments of his life.

Jesus told us similar stories to teach us the paramount importance of humility. He told us, “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

An old proverb says, “Humility is truth.” That means that utter honesty is at the root of humility – honesty about self, which includes a recognition of our gifts and talents and also the recognition of our fault, failures and sins.

Being honesty about where the gifts and talents come from is extremely important. Mary beautifully sums this attitude up in her Magnificat prayer. She boldly declares “All generations will call me blessed,” but she boldly insists, “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:49)

What she is saying is, “I am blessed among all God’s creatures, but to God (not me) give the glory.”

Some years ago, The Christian Herald published an interview with the saintly Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie and her family saved many Jews from death in the Netherlands during World War II. They were caught and imprisoned and some family members died in prison. Corrie, however, survived and became an important Christian author and lecturer. She was in great demand as a well-known speaker.

A reporter once asked her, “How do you feel about being so famous?”

She answered, “I am a sinner, saved by grace. Taking the honor away from the Lord is very dangerous. I believe that when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will always speak about Jesus. Pride is a very great danger. It is so stupid to think that it is my ability, because my ability can be here today and gone tomorrow. The Bible tells us that Christians must humble themselves.”

We do not practice humility when we put ourselves down or deny our own virtues. We should never become “doormats” nor should we stress our unworthiness repeatedly.

By our failures and sins, we are unworthy of God’s goodness to us. Yet, Jesus told us that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That means that God expects us to have a healthy respect for ourselves, as well as our neighbors.

The other aspect of humility is accepting our weakness and sinfulness. People who don’t look at themselves honestly and are unwilling to see and deal with their “dark side,” usually turn to some type of addition (drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.) to “drown out” their painful situation. We are all flawed. No one is perfect. When we do not face our defects and shortcomings, we live a lie.

Humility is truth. Let us not be afraid to look at ourselves honestly and thank God for our gifts and ask God’s help in overcoming our weaknesses and sins.