Dear Friends,
What is Humility Anyway?
In the book, In His Own Words, Jerry B. Jenkins quotes Billy Graham, “Be on guard against a self-centered pride that ultimately will destroy you. Instead, see yourself the way God sees you and humbly accept the gifts He has given you.”
The author cites Dr. Graham’s responses to an interviewer’s questions the final night of his 1954 Great Britain crusades, during which Billy had preached to a million and a half people in three months.
‘“That must have been so gratifying,” the interviewer suggested.
Mr. Graham ignored the prompt and said, “Let’s just pray and thank the Lord for what we just saw.”
When Billy looked up from praying, the interviewer asked if he didn’t at least appreciate how current crowds greeted him with warm applause.”
He shook his head, “I smile, but I’d rather dig a hole and crawl in it.”’
Based on interviews I’ve seen and other things I’ve read, I believe humility was one of the defining characteristics of Reverend Graham. He set a standard that few, if any, will ever match.
Now, let’s look at a story about another man who did something he had a right to be proud of, but whose lack of humility ended up making him look somewhat foolish.
His story took place today, February 7, 2019. It began as 17-year old Sierra was walking home from school. She heard a loud crash. Turning around, she saw a three-car pile-up. Two cars had collided, and one had careened into a third car parked by the side of the street.
Sierra ran back to see if she could assist. The driver of one of the cars appeared injured, but not in danger. The driver of the second car was slumped over the steering wheel. Loud noises were coming from the car and Sierra was concerned it might catch fire or explode, but she pushed past her concerns and tried to open the driver’s-side door. She pulled on it as hard as she could, but it was jammed and wouldn’t budge. She ran to a woman who was watching from a nearby yard. “We have to do something — Did you call 9-1-1?” The woman nodded yes.
Sierra ran back to the car. The car was still making loud noises, but Sierra knew she had to free the injured man. She gave the door another strong pull and to her astonishment it popped open.
About this time, another “Good Samaritan,” a man, approached and began to help. He reached in and turned off the engine. He unclipped the seat belt, and he and Sierra pulled the injured man from the car. The victim had been coughing up blood, so the man helped him stay upright so he wouldn’t bleed into his lungs. He also took off his own belt and put it between the injured man’s teeth to make sure he didn’t bite down on his tongue. He and Sierra stayed with the injured man until paramedics took him to the ambulance.
The other driver had minor injuries, but Sierra took him alcohol wipes she had in her purse so he could wipe blood from his face. After talking with the police, Sierra returned home where she told her mother everything that had happened.
Sierra had been home just a little while when her mother came into her room to tell her some disturbing news. “The other “Good Samaritan” had posted on Facebook photos of the accident and his version of the story. According to him, he had raced to help when nobody else would do anything. A friend of the man reposted the entry to a community web page, where Sierra’s mother saw it. Mom posted the full story.
Here’s how I learned about this incident: I had started writing this week’s blog when Bonnie suggested we take a walk. We had arrived at the park when Sierra called me on my cell phone. Sierra, you see, is our granddaughter.
She took us through the events step-by-step, sharing that she was concerned, not afraid. “Fear,” she said, “would have kept me from acting.” I am proud I was able to help. Bonnie and I told her how proud we are of her and how special it was that she was able to be a comfort to the victims of the accident.
So, on one end we have the Reverend Billy Graham who epitomized humility. Sierra is an example of what it means to be proud, but not prideful. On the other end of the humility scale, we have the man whose pride got out of control.
Few of us will ever be first on the scene at a major traffic accident. I cannot predict how I would react if I found myself in a situation like the one Sierra and the man faced. I pray that I, like Sierra and the man, would do what I could to help and then remember the words found in Philippians, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
I find it ironic that a message titled What is Humility Anyway? ended up with me being less than humble as I proudly share my granddaughter’s story. My defense is that God put Sierra at the scene of the accident for a reason. The fact that she, a young lady who loves the Lord, was there to help is just another reason for me to praise God
“who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ
Because He Loves Us Press 