Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
27 November, 1996 - Singapore
Good Morning!
HUMILITY IS FOCUSING ATTENTION ON OTHERS
Recently I received a letter from a person I had not heard from
in over 25 years. To my amazement, his dispatch contained 43
references to himself as he chronicled his many impressive accomplishments.
Then, without warning, the communication abruptly ended with
his signature. Not one inquiry about my family or me.
It would appear that his letter evidenced an amazing degree of
SELF-CENTEREDNESS.
Ever observe how people crowd their way into an elevator or
onto a bus? Or jump up to be the first to get off an air
plane? Or leave their McDonalds Hamburger tray un-bussed?
SELF-CENTEREDNESS.
And what about conversations? Amazing, is it not, the
verbal dexterity people will employ to insure that the focus
of the interchange somehow centers on them?
SELF-CENTEREDNESS.
By contrast, HUMILITY IS FOCUSING ATTENTION ON OTHERS.
HUMBLE people have a quiet, softness about them. They step to the back of the crowd. They quietly pick up other's bags. They defer. They are un-pretentious. They remain un-perturbed at being inconvenienced. They are humble folk who are likable and easy to be around.
By contrast, PRIDE has a stiff, arbitrary quality about it. Like bumping into a fire plug: There's no give. It's bruising. Always right.
Ponder St. Paul's admonition on HUMILITY:
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. In humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)
In His humility Jesus gave up all His rights, and He calls us to do exactly the same:
"If any man wants to follow in my footsteps, HE
MUST GIVE UP ALL RIGHT TO HIMSELF...AND KEEP CLOSE BEHIND ME...THE
SON OF MAN HIMSELF HAS NOT COME TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE, AND
TO GIVE HIS LIFE TO SET MANY OTHERS FREE." (Luke
9:23; Mark 10:45 - Phillips)
HUMILITY THEN IS FOCUSING ATTENTION ON OTHERS.
THE QUESTION IS, "ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?"
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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