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HUMILITY

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 10.

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HUMILITY

By F. R. Richards

AND Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18:2, 3.
By this beautiful object-lesson the Saviour demonstrated to His hearers the open simplicity of the problem of salvation; the humble, trusting innocence of the little child appealed to the finer instincts of the hearers thru the tenderest cords of human affection. It was evidently not a question of stature, great or small, nor of maturity or youth, but it was truly a question of contrition and humility against pride and self-righteousness.
How impressive the lesson! What a witness to the fathomless riches of God’s love for the children of men does the picture present! How fruitless their efforts, and how foreign to the truth was the distorted reasoning of the scribes and Pharisees! How worthless their self-appointed works of forms and ceremonies in contrast with divine wisdom! “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5, 6. “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18:4.
The lesson before us well illustrates how vastly removed from harmony with the divine mind are the ruling elements of fallen nature in man. How vain, then, are his efforts to work out the change in himself that will span the chasm between the carnal and the spiritual! Yet how many poor souls, by arousing and fostering and training their nobler tendencies, seek to produce such perfection of character as would pass examination before the bar of God! Alas for them! The end aimed at is worthy and exalted, but utterly unattainable, except as by divine intervention it is brought within the reach of all, even to the most lowly. No amount of educational training that money, talent, and social advantage may procure can ever fit one soul for citizenship in heaven apart from the spiritual change wrought only by that divine, invisible agency, the Holy Spirit.
Among all the inhabitants of the earth, past and present, there is no exception; “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” “because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jer. 17:9.
To make outward profession of humility is an easy thing, which many honestly do, and for a time they pass pleasantly thru a smooth experience in life. But trials are met at length, as must be in every case, and character is then tested. The cherished humility may then prove spurious; for if perchance we be misjudged, misunderstood, contradicted, misrepresented, or even be harassed by envious persons with malicious intent, how will we endure the trial?
If at such a time the heart fails to respond with considerate forbearance, charity, and sympathy for the cause of our discomfort, we may know that we are not humble and contrite, but selfish and proud, being yet in the bondage of sin. He who is truly humble sees himself a sinner in the sight of a holy God. He feels his helplessness apart from divine grace. A sense of spiritual leanness strangles selfish pride, and he knows that he is “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Rev. 3:17. Such an one the Lord will bless with all spiritual blessings. “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51:17.
If the Christian’s heart goes out with love stronger and deeper than ever for the erring brother who in sincere humility and repentance confesses his wrongs, how much more will our heavenly Father and holy angels rejoice in a wanderer’s return! Jesus says, “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke 15:7.
The achievement of him who thus conquers his own selfish pride may not be discerned and lauded to the skies by a hero-worshiping throng, who see only the perishing tinsel of earthly pomp and glory, but his reward will be a praise that neither the march of time nor the hand of death can ever remove; for God by the word of His prophet says that better is he “that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Prov. 16:32.
Well may we study, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Atchison, Kansas.                     F. R. RICHARDS.