Be Humble

“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.” Colossians 2:18

Aidan was an Irish monk who later became bishop of Northumbria (Northern England and parts of Scotland) in the year 635. He also founded the famous monastery at Lindisfarne in Northern England. There is a story told of his friend and King, Oswin, who ruled a province in England and who gave the bishop an expensive horse as a gift. Soon after receiving the gift, a beggar approached Aidan and asked for money.

Aidan did one better, he dismounted from the steed, and promptly gave the man the horse, along with all its costly trappings. Eventually, this reached the king’s attention, who promptly scolded the generous bishop: “Why did you give away the horse that we specially chose for your personal use when we knew that you had need of one for your journeys? We have many less valuable horses that would have been suitable for beggars.” Aidan responded, saying “Is this foal of a mare more valuable to you than a child of God?” The king thought about his friend’s words, abruptly got on his knees at Aidan’s feet, and begged for forgiveness.

Each of us needs to have the mindset of humility. Ask the Lord to give you a spirit of humility in all that you do, for the smaller we are, the more room God has for us.

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:5