An Aversion To Humility

A friend recently forwarded the cutest video to me.  It was a toddler who had picked up an onion and had insisted to his mom that it was an apple.  She tried to convince him otherwise, but he was not to be dissuaded.  She finally gave up and told him to go ahead and take a bite.  This he did with a flourish, as if he had won the battle.  He chewed and chewed and clearly was stunned by the flavor which was not at all what he had anticipated.  But, he was bound and determined he was not going to give in so he took another bite and still another with an increasingly grimaced look on his face as his eyes began to water.  Yet, amazingly, he forged on!  It was hysterical to watch and remarkable to see how stubborn humans can be, even at such a young age.  He was imply NOT going to admit he was wrong.

This is who we are.  How often do we struggle with the need to admit we are wrong?  First of all, who is right all the time?  The odds are pretty good that we will be wrong at least sometimes.  So, how often do we admit it?  And, why is it so hard?

Along those same lines, how often can we choke out the words, “I’m sorry”?  That is in itself admitting we were wrong.  Our problem is pride.  It’s hard to swallow.  To say you’re sorry involves just a few words, but they seem to get stuck in our throats like a piece of meat.  Maybe we need to chew on our mistake awhile so we can actually get the words out.

How about asking someone for forgiveness?  Another tough one.  Oh, my.  Talk about groveling…This involves the previous things we stumble over, and they lead to this very place when we have wronged another person.

Our primary example of humility was the Lord Jesus Himself.  Philippians 2:5-8 show us how Jesus humbled Himself to take on the same flesh we have – He condescended to become like us – leaving heaven to come to teach, show us the Father, and then die FOR US.  Who would do that?  Only the Lord.  So, why can’t we at least admit when we’re wrong, say we’re sorry, and ask for forgiveness when necessary?

Are our hearts so full of SELF that there’s no room for God?  We are most like Him when we can get over ourselves, drop the charade and follow HIs example.

 

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.”      (Phillippians 2:3)

 

5 Comments

  1. Cathy

    So true! Humbling oneself is so difficult, yet so freeing! Thank you Teri for your words of wisdom!❤️🤗🙏🏻

  2. Larry

    Thx yet again for talking about a difficult human issue. Pride! Thx Teri!

  3. Linda Dircks

    When someone shows you a picture of people – who do we look for first? Ourselves! It says something …. egocentric! You continue to expose our sorry selves!

  4. Martha Emmons

    It’s become popular to say “Sorry, not sorry”. Thank God Jesus didn’t say that when he was asked to come to earth.

  5. Marilin

    Sorry’s good, but it’s so easy to say. It doesn’t mean anything if it’s not sincere and has action behind it, like repentance. How sorry are you…..let me show you.

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