Humility

Humility

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

In an essay on humility, Søren Kierkegaard suggests that we imagine an arrow racing on its course. Suddenly it halts in its flight, perhaps to see how far it has come, how high it has soared above the earth, or how its speed compares to that of another arrow (or to admire the gracefulness with which it flies). At that very moment it falls to the ground. Even so, the philosopher insists, self-preoccupation is dangerous and self-destructive.

Self-preoccupation is as different from abiding in Christ as darkness is from light. To be preoccupied with myself is to become self-focused, diminished, and weak, because on my own I have no source of strength. But to be preoccupied with Christ—to abide in him—means that my life is others-focused, enlarged, and strong through God’s limitless store of power. Abiding in Christ is what I want to do, but without the daily commitment of spending time with him, I drift back into self-preoccupation.

God asks us to be occupied with him and his kingdom. When we focus on him and forget ourselves, we find that he has already secured our significance for us. “This significance is not based on performance, power, prosperity, or position, but in the person of the living God releasing Christ within us.”^a

Father,

Forgive us for being so preoccupied with ourselves. May our children see us focusing on you and your Kingdom and growing in humility. Amen.