Think of Yourself Less

20Nov
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you have a right to think...do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly."
-Romans 12: 3,16


Humility has been the focus of our readings for several weeks. Sometimes the tax collector is contrasted with a Pharisee in a story told by Jesus, sometimes a warning by Paul to the early church. The message is certainly that as a Christian we should strive to be humble.


In reading C.S. Lewis' book, "Surprised by Joy", he describes in great detail the stratified society in England in the early 1900's when he was a mere lad in a public boarding school. There were the clubs, the sports, the wealth. All had their "ins" and their "outs." Poor guy, all he wanted to do was to read a book of classic Greek or Latin mythology curled up by himself in the library. He became a declared atheist, and worse became a snobbish prig. His word, not mine. We seldom hear that word today, but it is still an appropriate description of some people.


Paul saw this stratification in the early church and was quick to warn against it. Today, we see it everywhere as information technology makes it easy to find out where we fit in any aspect of our life. Top 1%, top 10%, bottom 25%. It's all at our finger tips in our closest phone.  


Later in his life, as Lewis discovered the joy of Christianity, he writes a lot about humility. My favorite quote is this: "True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less." For that we should all strive.

Musical Reflection - Humble and Kind - Lori McKenna


Gracious God, help us to take our eyes off of ourselves, and help us to concentrate on the other. Amen.

Humility

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