HUMILITY WINS!

Humility wins!  Jack and Jill were on a touring holiday, Jack was driving the car with Jill beside him, Jack always boasted he was good at map reading and with great confidence he was following the route he had copied onto a piece of cardboard.  After a while Jill said, “Are you sure you're going the right way.”  “Of course I am,” replied Jack, “We'll join the motorway in about 5 miles from here so don't panic!”   Soon Jack was putting his foot down and cursing other drivers, “Darling,” said Jill after about 15 minutes, “Where's the motorway!”   Jack snapped, “Oh, we'll soon be there I'm just doing a detour, it's that stupid map!”

We smile, but sadly Jack is typical of many today.  He was too self-confident.  Too proud of his reputation to admit he was wrong.  Too proud to blame himself and admit he was lost.  Too proud to ask for help and too proud to say sorry!  The Bible says, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”   The haughty will be humbled. [ Proverbs 16:18 and Isaiah 10:33 ]  St. Peter wrote , “Be clothed with humility for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” [ 1 Peter 5:5-6 ]

The Bible records the history of Manasseh, King of Israel, who lived a wicked life for about 50 years.  Eventually he was carried off to Babylon in chains but when, “he humbled himself greatly” the Lord heard his prayer for help.  Through God's amazing grace he was brought back to Jerusalem , where, during his closing years, he rescued his nation from idolatry and restored the true worship of the invisible God who resists the proud and assists the humble.  Read [ 2 Chronicles 33 ].