Read: Mark 9:30-37

He who is least among you all
will be great. -Luke 9:48

“What do you think of the candidates?” That’s what a
reporter for a news magazine asked a young woman at
Dartmouth University after a debate among presidential
hopefuls. She didn’t say a word about their positions
on the issues or their skill at debate. She simply
remarked, “None of them seems to have any humility.”

Benjamin Franklin, the early American statesman, made
a list of character qualities that he wanted to develop
in his own life. When he mastered one virtue, he went
on to the next. He did pretty well, he said, until he
got to humility. Every time he thought he was making
significant progress, he would be so pleased with
himself that he became proud.

Humility is an elusive virtue. Even Jesus’ disciples
struggled with it. When Jesus learned that they had
been arguing about who was the greatest, He responded,
“If anyone desires to be first, he should be last of all
and servant of all” (Mk. 9:35). Then He took a little
child in His arms and indicated that we need to humbly
serve others as if we were serving Christ.

If a news reporter were to talk to our friends,
neighbors, or fellow church members and ask them to
describe us, would they use the word humble?
-David C. Egner

True greatness does not lie with those
Who strive for worldly fame;
It lies instead with those who choose
To serve in Jesus’ name. -DJD

HUMILITY CAN BE SOUGHT
BUT NEVER CELEBRATED.

OUR DAILY BREAD, Copyright 1998 by Radio Bible Class,
Grand Rapids,Michigan. Used by permission.

Related Articles:

• Henri Nouwen – more wisdom
• LIVING A WHOLE LIFE (Richard Rohr)
• Faith and feelings
• Beautiful video with a comforting message…
• Wisdom from Henri Nouwen

This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License.