The humble and the proud

WE have to learn to know whether we are truly humble or

are already treading the path of pride. With these confusing times,

many of us do not know anymore which side of this issue we already

are. Deceptive and illusive elements are so plenty that we really need

some effort to discern which is which in our case.

            One way to distinguish between the two is to examine how

we think about this particular issue. The humble usually thinks that

he is still proud, and so he continues to find ways of how to grow in

humility. The proud thinks in the reverse. He usually thinks he is

already humble, and so he kind of seals his pride and even worsens it.

  

            The humble person tries to keep a low profile while doing

his best to fulfill his duties. He likes to pass unnoticed, to avoid

attracting attention and to shun praises. His joy is the awareness

that what he is doing is simply for the glory of God and for no other

human glory. He is always thinking of God and of the others.

  

            He is not afraid to make sacrifices. In fact, he welcomes

them and even looks for them. He is also willing to let go of certain

privileges. Yes, he is more concerned about duties than about rights.

He does things with pure intentions, without counting the cost and

fishing for rewards. What he does is done always in gratis, with a

heart filled with love.

  

            The proud person, on the other hand, likes to bask in the

limelight, flaunting whatever he has, strutting his stuff, and even

puffing up what he thinks is not up to par. He is kind of obsessed

with gaining public attention and praises. In short, he is after his

own glorification. God and the others are at best mere props, means

and occasions to achieve his own glorification. It’s an I-me-mine

world for him.

   

            Thus, he can also mimic some forms of piety, if the

occasion requires it. He can appear to be humble, generous and

magnanimous to others if it serves his vanity. He is prone to

expecting and even demanding privileges and entitlements. He is averse

to making sacrifices. And if he goes through some of them, it is for

the sake of his pride and vanity.

  

            The humble person is usually patient and tolerant without

compromising the essential. He is willing to suffer and bear the

burdens of the others, even to the point of becoming a martyr,

misunderstood and scorned. He is quick to forgive others and even

tries to find excuses for them.

  

            The proud person, on the other hand, is usually impatient

and irritable, and hardly has any concern about the essentials in life

and in faith. He cleverly distances from any occasion that will

inconvenience him, although he likes to appear always as a hero. He is

usually judgmental and a fault-finder. He likes to put down others to

bring himself up.

   

            The humble person hardly talks about himself or makes

references to himself. He only thinks of God and of the others, of how

he can give glory to God and how he can serve the others. He is

self-effacing even if he happens to do a heroic act. He is always at

peace and cheerful

   

            The proud person does the opposite. Every chance he has to

talk about himself, he grabs it. He is notoriously self-conscious. His

mind and heart are usually in constant jumble, unable to sort out

things properly.

   

            We need to examine ourselves closely to see where we are

in this particular issue. Times are confusing, and it’s easy to be

deceived, not so much by others as by our own selves.