Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Humility in the Blogworld....is it there?
Did you read CJ Mahaney's cream cheese story that I posted a few days ago...if not read it here. This post is a continuation from that post. I have been receiving some excellent teaching on the subject of humility and have frankly felt very convicted of my lack of it. Do you feel that way,too? I think especially in the blogworld,we can hide behind what we want to present to the world. We have that power in blogging...for others to see only what we want them to see. C.S. Lewis admits that he believes Pride is the *great sin* in his book,Mere Christianity. He states:
We think more highly of ourselves and therefore put forth our best side to make us appear more funny,more godly,more charitable,more holy,more biblical,more together,more organized,more loving,more wise,etc...this list could go on and on. We put ourselves at enmity with others...we desire(our flesh and sinful nature) for ourselves to be recognized...to be seen as the ones who have it all together. We are all guilty,wouldn't you say?
Romans 12:3 says:
You know what? Everything we are and have is a gift as a result of God's grace...how utterly wicked of us to brag on the gifts given to us. How can we boast on something that is a gift...it is not ours to take credit for...we have not earned one ounce of it...it is all by God's grace in our lives that we even love God at all. We should say thank you to God,not look at me. This convicts me and keeps me grounded,too. God receives all glory and credit for the things we take pride in. We are trying to steal it away when we are prideful...not only did He give us the gift of His son as the sacrifice for our sins...but then we come along and try to take credit for it through our pride.
I have a spiritual mentor that I have been friends with for many years...she is one of the teachers in our women's ministry at church. She is very wise and has been a source of encouragement to me over the years. She often says...."We have to constantly be reminded of what we already know". Isn't this so true? I know it is for me. I need that constant reminding...from scripture,from a friend,from a book,form one of your blogs....we all need the reminders. Thank you for reminding me through your blogs!
I really like one of the quotes by CJ Mahaney in the introduction of his book,*Humility True Greatness*.
Have you had any cream cheese moments...when you thought everything was fine and good,but in reality you had the glob(I got it right this time,Leslie) of cream cheese on your face? I have...many times and maybe I will blog on some of those times in the near future. I'm not promoting airing our dirty laundry for everyone to see as some form of *trying to show humility*...I'm just saying we all struggle with this and we can help eachother along this path. We all need true biblical encouragement...and biblical correction when needed. There are no super moms,no perfect families,and no perfectly sweet children. When,in our pride,we think someone is a super mom or that person has it all together...what we are really saying is I'm jealous of her life or I wish I was like her. It becomes a competition and I think well meaning women are guilty of this. It is pride.
One last quote from C.S. Lewis.
It is pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began. Other vices may sometimes bring people together: you may find good fellowship and jokes and friendliness among drunken people or unchaste people. But pride always means enmity--it is enmity. And not only enmity between man and man,but enmity to God.
We think more highly of ourselves and therefore put forth our best side to make us appear more funny,more godly,more charitable,more holy,more biblical,more together,more organized,more loving,more wise,etc...this list could go on and on. We put ourselves at enmity with others...we desire(our flesh and sinful nature) for ourselves to be recognized...to be seen as the ones who have it all together. We are all guilty,wouldn't you say?
Romans 12:3 says:
For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to each think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
You know what? Everything we are and have is a gift as a result of God's grace...how utterly wicked of us to brag on the gifts given to us. How can we boast on something that is a gift...it is not ours to take credit for...we have not earned one ounce of it...it is all by God's grace in our lives that we even love God at all. We should say thank you to God,not look at me. This convicts me and keeps me grounded,too. God receives all glory and credit for the things we take pride in. We are trying to steal it away when we are prideful...not only did He give us the gift of His son as the sacrifice for our sins...but then we come along and try to take credit for it through our pride.
I have a spiritual mentor that I have been friends with for many years...she is one of the teachers in our women's ministry at church. She is very wise and has been a source of encouragement to me over the years. She often says...."We have to constantly be reminded of what we already know". Isn't this so true? I know it is for me. I need that constant reminding...from scripture,from a friend,from a book,form one of your blogs....we all need the reminders. Thank you for reminding me through your blogs!
I really like one of the quotes by CJ Mahaney in the introduction of his book,*Humility True Greatness*.
So let me make this clear at the outset: I'm a proud man pursuing humilty by the grace of God. I don't write as an authority on humility;I write as a fellow pilgrim walking with you on a path set for us by our humble Savior. I can only address you with confidence in the great and gracious God who has promised to give grace to the humble.(James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)
Have you had any cream cheese moments...when you thought everything was fine and good,but in reality you had the glob(I got it right this time,Leslie) of cream cheese on your face? I have...many times and maybe I will blog on some of those times in the near future. I'm not promoting airing our dirty laundry for everyone to see as some form of *trying to show humility*...I'm just saying we all struggle with this and we can help eachother along this path. We all need true biblical encouragement...and biblical correction when needed. There are no super moms,no perfect families,and no perfectly sweet children. When,in our pride,we think someone is a super mom or that person has it all together...what we are really saying is I'm jealous of her life or I wish I was like her. It becomes a competition and I think well meaning women are guilty of this. It is pride.
One last quote from C.S. Lewis.
Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most call "humble" nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy,smarmy person,who is always telling you that,of course,he is a nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful,intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: He will not be thinking about himself at all.
If anyone would like to acquire humility,I can,I think,tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step,too. At least,nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited,it means you are very conceited indeed.
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
18 Comments:
That first statement by C.S. Lewis is really a huge one to think about isn't it. It's so true, when pride rises up that is what causes enmity between man and God. It's our pride that get offended, our pride that wants credit, our pride that makes us say or do things that would propel us forward in the eyes those around us.
Such a huge teaching you have tackled Kim. And you're mentor is right, we do need to remind ourselves of what we know. Great study!
I love that saying from your mentor, 'We need to be reminded of what we already know'. That is so true!
I also love that quote by C.S. Lewis. Eric and I began that book last night (after reading your previous post). I'm excited about the challenge we face because I know we could certainly exercise some humility. From the quote, though, it wouldn't be exercise at all, would it? We would do it without even knowing it. I love that.
Thanks again for posting such thought-provoking and challenging ideas.
Hope your Tuesday is going well:)
I think it is good for us (especially in the blog world) to share some 'cream cheese moments' sometimes. It's so easy to share the positive things while hiding those things for which we (all) need grace.
Thanks for sharing this Kim. This is SO true! I also love what you mentor said, we need to be constantly reminded of these things.
What challenging thoughts! So true how it creates enmity. I know that Satan has used pride to defeat me in my life at times. God has really taught me a lot about humility through marriage and parenting, but I know I have much to learn. This sounds like a great book.
Kim,
This is a very good post. I often think how easy it would be to portray an image to an unseen world and receive all kinds of accolades to what we write. We are human and all need love and acceptance, which is difficult to find in this fallen world in which we live outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
One of the ways bloggers can remain humble and honest about who we are, is to have readers who know us in real life.
I just wanted to wish you a VERY happy birthday! Hope it was a great one! May God bless you in the coming year!
PS- Marriage and children sure do teach humility! A LOT!
Yep, humility is a tough one. It's scary to admit how human we really are.... how TRULY any good thing in us comes from God. It is only because of His love that we can understand humility and selfless pure love. A daily battle to fight.... pride vs humility. And the devil makes them oddly difficult to discern at times.
You are right on point with this one. In so many ways. But the one that got me was the point you make about bloggers. We only put out there what we want others to see. I am thankful for the family and friends of mine who read my blog--they keep me honest. They KNOW me.
I am so guilty of comparing myself to what other bloggers put out--"oh, she has it all together!!" OR "I'm glad I'm not like her!!" It is so easy to be the Pharisee who thanks God that He didn't make him like the poor beggar. I ought to only compare myself to Christ--I'll always come up short there, and my attitude will be a humble one.
It has been through the humble testimony of obedient Christians that Christ is glorified and hearts are forever changed! That whole *dying daily* to our own selfish ambition is so difficult (for me), especially when our (my) ambition is to hide behind a facade. I know that it is necessary to be transparent for Christ to truly shine through and this is a wonderful reminder and word of encouragement. Thanks Kim!
Thanks Kim!
Hello. I came to your blog via Jane. I just commented on luxvenit for the first time because I think I just found a whole new blogging world to communicate with. I am already all about the Chinese adoption world because our Chinese daughter is four and we are trying to go back for #2. I have blogged with this group since August. Now that I have found all these people linked to you and Jane and luxvenit and you all are about Girl Talk, Biblical Womanhood, etc. I am so excited to come and look more when I have more time! Visit me at pandapalooza.blogspot
I agree,Leslie and Kim...this post speaks the loudest to myself!
Kim
Kim, often I get woman making the assumption that just because I'm organized than the rest of my life must just be all peachy and rosey...HA...no way hosea! You are right, none of us are perfect and it is so amazing for me to read blogs of other woman just trying to do their best with good days and bad days and to know that it is okay to just be me, imperfections and all!
Laura
Very well said,Laura....you have always been so humbly organized! I love that about you!
Kim
Wow! Conviction. I loved the entire post, but my favorite quote was the last one. Oh, to be that humble person. . . I tend to be full of pride. But, I am not at all conceited in a boastful sort of way. I am the other extreme - talking too much about my own weaknesses. Which is very much pride. Does that make sense?
To trust God completely and to enjoy our life as he said in that quote, that is the abundant life! Thanks so much for the challenge. Thanks for a post of such depth.
Pride is such a subtle temptation; if I'm not careful I can become proud of how humble I am!
I can't remember where, but I've heard humility described as having a proper view of myself AS WELL AS a proper view of God. In the name of humility, I can be consumed with how awful I am, a self-preoccupation which turns very quickly into a twisted form of pride. I need to know I am nothing apart from Him, that all my righteous acts are nothing but filthy rags before Him...but I also need to know He is the holy God of the universe and He has redeemed me and saved me and gifted me and filled me...
True humility is recognizing the balance between what I am, what I was, and what He has made me by His mercy and His grace. How can I be anything but humble when I understand the measure of His grace to me? Who can comprehend such love?
Deep stuff. Thank you. You are right. We hide behind a mask to let others believe we have it all together.
I like what your friend said, we need to keep learning what we already know. So true.
Love this. May I always strive for more of Him and less of me. And not get too picky about who He chooses to teach me these lessons (usually my kids!).
Post a Comment
<< Home