The other day, my best friend said, "You know, you aren't being humble when you aren't acknowledging your talents."
I have always thought of myself as a fairly humble person, but I am learning that this is something that I could use a study in too. There are times when I forget my humility (just like everyone). (Sometimes I feel like I need someone to just shout at me when I think I know what's best.) However, my problem seems to be primarily that I over-humble myself.
Can you be too humble? I am learning that the truth is that you really can. What my friend said was really an eye opener. I have a tendency to let fear or doubt overcome me and I deny my own talents. This ends up hurting me more than others as pride does, but it is still a problem.
But why is this a problem? What are our talents? What are our skills? Where does our knowledge and wisdom come from? It's all gifts from God. Denying ourselves the use of any of these because of fears and doubts is.... drumroll.... sin! To use these properly is to worship God. To abuse them for our own glory is pride. But to sequester them? We don't see that as so wrong, but what does God say about it?
From Matthew 25:
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
So there I am. The wicked, lazy servant. Everyday, I let my fears and doubts hold me back from exploiting my true potential. I feel like this has been especially true in the last few months. I've been getting by, and doing the minimum, because if I try and do more, I might fail! And I know that I will not be able to catch myself if I fall.
OH ME OF LITTLE FAITH! Of COURSE God will be there to catch me. Now all I have to do is figure out HOW I am going to use my talents, and how to start taking some risks. Playing it safe is getting me nowhere. God has given me so many gifts. Now, to take the next step forward.
I have always thought of myself as a fairly humble person, but I am learning that this is something that I could use a study in too. There are times when I forget my humility (just like everyone). (Sometimes I feel like I need someone to just shout at me when I think I know what's best.) However, my problem seems to be primarily that I over-humble myself.
Can you be too humble? I am learning that the truth is that you really can. What my friend said was really an eye opener. I have a tendency to let fear or doubt overcome me and I deny my own talents. This ends up hurting me more than others as pride does, but it is still a problem.
But why is this a problem? What are our talents? What are our skills? Where does our knowledge and wisdom come from? It's all gifts from God. Denying ourselves the use of any of these because of fears and doubts is.... drumroll.... sin! To use these properly is to worship God. To abuse them for our own glory is pride. But to sequester them? We don't see that as so wrong, but what does God say about it?
From Matthew 25:
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
So there I am. The wicked, lazy servant. Everyday, I let my fears and doubts hold me back from exploiting my true potential. I feel like this has been especially true in the last few months. I've been getting by, and doing the minimum, because if I try and do more, I might fail! And I know that I will not be able to catch myself if I fall.
OH ME OF LITTLE FAITH! Of COURSE God will be there to catch me. Now all I have to do is figure out HOW I am going to use my talents, and how to start taking some risks. Playing it safe is getting me nowhere. God has given me so many gifts. Now, to take the next step forward.
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