Humility and Happiness
Transcript:
Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!
There is no trait more necessary to being happy than humility. Humility means not taking yourself so stinking seriously. And we do that by taking God and His Word with the utmost seriousness. It is the fear of the Lord that protects us from pride burdening our souls with the unnecessary weight of self-importance. As G.K. Chesterton put it: “Angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly.”
Being humble makes us happy. Think about it. Why are you so often bent out of shape? I can tell you because it’s the same for me. We are often upset because we feel slighted; we feel we’re not getting what we deserve; we didn’t get our way. In other words, our pride is offended; it’s injured.
Well, the cure to this is simple: humility! Humbling yourself and putting away your pride puts you back on the path to happiness.
Remember Jesus said “Blessed/Happy are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” You see, in our pride we throw this big pity-party because our little kingdom of self has been snubbed; all the while Jesus is promising the expansive riches of the very kingdom of heaven.
Again, listen to G.K. Chesterton: “How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it…”
Happiness doesn’t come by getting what you think you deserve but by surrendering what you think you deserve to God’s safe keeping.
Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.
“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
~1 Peter 5:5-11 (ESV)