The Value Of Humility

"Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread" (Prov. 12:9).

Another rendering of this verse would have it say: "Better is one who is despised;" that is, one who is so poor as to be able barely to have but one servant. Such a man, looked down on by others, is better than a man who boasts of his greatness, when he really doesn't have food to eat. The idea is, of course, that it is better to be poor and ignored or despised by others than it is to boast of one's importance, especially when there is no ground for such boasting. Such a man is despised with cause.
Pride, arrogance and conceit should have no place in the life of a Christian. We should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to thing, but to think soberly (Rom. 12:3). We are not to be wise in our own opinion (Rom. 12:16). We are each to esteem others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3), for such was the mind of Christ.
Instead, we should manifest "lowliness of mind" (Phil. 2:3). If life gives us a low rung of the ladder on which to stand, we should be content with what we have (Phil. 4:11; Heb. 13:5), even when others pay us no mind or despise us. We should be of the same mind toward one another, and not set our minds on high things, but associate with the humble (Rom. 12:16). We are to be "clothed with humility," for God gives grace to the humble" (1 Pet. 5:5). What a beatiful thought! Help us Lord to prctice your Word everyday.

In Love

Eric C