3/20/55

Scripture: I Peter 5: 1-11

Texts: I Peter 5: 5c; “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” [cf. James 4: 6b]. Matthew 5: 3; “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

If humility is a virtue, it is most elusive. One might think he has attained to some of it, only to discover that his acquaintances know that he has become proud of his humility -- like the little girl who, in answer to the question, “Which member of the class brags least about herself?” wrote down her own name. (cf. “Tobacco road” character). The Sacred Scriptures have a great deal to say about pride. Pride became the downfall of numerous men of prominence and fame, and the Israelites were warned not to forget it. Jesus underlines its danger for all Christians.

One of the more independent, as well as vigorous and fruitful, minds of early American history, was that of Benjamin Franklin. With the attitude of an unafraid adventurer, he systematically explored many avenues of experience in constant search of more truth. His interest covered vast areas of experience. His curiosity led to remarkable discoveries about electricity. His convinced patriotism led him to real statesmanship. He once decided to try to attain moral perfection, and as usual set about it systematically, by writing down a list of twelve virtues which seemed to him to embody the essential traits of a good life.

In his little book, he kept a separate page for each of the twelve virtues with rulings on each page for the seven days of the week. He aimed to focus his mind on one virtue a week at a time, keeping track of each daily violation. Going through his list in that way, and depending on his conscience to tell him what was good and what was bad, he expected to be able to attain the good and avoid the bad. In trying to improve his life and perfect his technique, Franklin showed his list to an old Quaker friend, who scrutinized it carefully and then gently informed him that he had omitted the virtue of humility. Franklin added it at once. His list then read: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquillity, chastity, humility. There is a good deal of wisdom in his effort, and in his list. And Franklin’s encyclopedic knowledge made his almanac both interesting and useful. But he did not attain the spiritual depth in emphasis which is gained in the precepts of the Hebrew prophets and by Jesus of Nazareth.

In this matter of humility, we see that Franklin added it last to his list. Jesus puts it first in his Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Christian theology has pretty consistently put pride as the first and most basic of deadly sins. C. S. Lewis speaks of pride as “the spiritual cancer that devours every possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.” Humility is not just an added virtue. It is the foundation of all other virtues. Pride is not just a surface flaw. It is a basic sin at the bottom of most wrongdoing.

That pride is basic sin is recognized in the Scriptural observation that “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” Peter wrote that in a letter widely circulated among first century Christians. James included the same saying in a letter which he wrote. Both must have had in mind some of the proverbs of the earlier Hebrew literature, as well as Jesus’ teaching.

The principle which emerges is this: pride is basic sin because it begets a resistance that stops growth toward God. Humility is basic virtue because it possesses a grace of receptivity which makes for growth. Pride is closely related to roots of man’s nature. The little child, pushing out to preserve and strengthen himself, takes his first step, and then looks around with pride for the approval of his elders. Later, he brings home a report card, and both he and his parents take justifiable pride in his progress. This much of pride seems a legitimate part of our selves. At what point, then, does pride develop divine resistance?

We sometimes say of some person that his learning has “gone to his head.” Well, of course, learning is supposed to go there! But in such a case as this, it is assumed to have gotten there with the wrong results. The person has become intoxicated with his own achievement. When pride “goes to one’s head,” it inflates the ego with such self-importance that the man fails to see the import of things around him. He becomes so proud of his own opinions that he argues to show how right he is rather than discusses, to find out what is right. He talks when he should be listening. He is arrogant in his own judgments, and uncharitable with those who differ with him. He often closes the shutters of his own mind to any new light of truth.

All human knowledge tends to form a pattern of ideas and the pattern tends to stop the further growth of ideas. Jesus faced that situation with the scholars of his day. The Scribes and Pharisees had built up a system of doctrine. Jesus was a newcomer who did not fit into that system. They scornfully asked whence came this carpenter’s knowledge.

We in our time have seen some of these idea-patterns. We talked about the conflict in ideology between Nazi totalitarianism and our free societies. We talk now about the difference between communist ideology and capitalistic enterprise.

But if we are true to the spirit of Christ, we are not always pitting our pattern of ideas against all others, but rather we try to turn on the light of truth which will show up falsity wherever it is found. Jesus heralded the coming of the Spirit of Truth, saying, “He will guide you into all truth.” Ralph Sockman says that Jesus “gave directions rather than definitions.”

God resists the man with a closed mind because he is too proud to receive truth. But God “giveth grace to the humble.” The mind which is best filled bows humbly like a well-filled head of wheat or a good ear of corn. The humble person sees that the more one knows, the more there is to be known. It is said that Charles Kettering, who has made astonishing contributions to science and industry, attributes his progress to what he calls “intelligent ignorance.”

Thomas Huxley wrote to a friend [Charles Kingsley] “Sit down before the facts as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever nature leads you, or you shall learn nothing. I have only begun to learn content and peace of mind since I have resolved, at all risks, to do this.”

If we should be humble enough to receive the grace of God in this matter of truth, we must modestly admit that the truth, as it is in God, is too vast for us to have any monopoly upon it for ourselves or our group.

In our church family life, while maintaining a proper preference for our own denominational affiliation so long as we belong to it, we must humbly hear our Lord say, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold”[John 10: 16], and remember that God speaks directly to people of other forms of religious faith.

Pride of spirit can be like a light inside your car at night. Its brightness transforms the auto windows into mirrors. You can see reflections of yourself and your passengers, but you can’t see out well enough. You and I have to turn off the interior glare in order to see out well enough to drive.

Pride can not be cured by one day of humility, nor by occasional doses of the same. Humility is a medicine to be taken daily. Each day we need study to open new ideas, be patient with opposition, ready to listen to reproof even when not convinced that it is deserved, willing to confess our error when it is shown to us.

Francis of Assisi had a simple way of keeping himself from inflated pride. It is said that whenever anyone praised his virtues, he would ask a fellow monk to sit down with him and tell him his faults. (Someone remarks that if Francis had been married he might have had that service rendered to him by his family!) This last remark is not entirely flippant. For the godly home is a superb training ground for the grace of humility. For love sees the weakness blended with strength, avoids the flattery of the false, and cares enough to help cure.

I know an older fellow-minister who says that he is blessed, like most of us fellows, with a wife who is far more lovely than he deserves. Part of his affection for her, and hers for him, is rooted in his recognition that she is by far the severest and most honest critic of his preaching. He expects an honesty from her, about what he says and the way he says it, that he does not receive from anyone else. And when she does praise him, that is praise indeed!

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The poor in spirit are not dispirited nor devoid of spark and responsiveness. They do not despise themselves nor regard themselves as “lower than a worm.” They have learned from their Lord of the inestimable and immortal worth of each person. They know that each is irreplaceable, that each is a temple of God’s Holy Spirit, though all too rudely fashioned and insufficiently maintained. But they have learned if they have achieved any significant worth, not to be stiff-necked, unyielding and headstrong fellows like the brothers in the following parable from a family history.

Two brothers jointly managed their father’s farm. Machinery and other property was held in common. But gradually they drew apart. The younger brother prided himself that he was smarter than his older brother and could make more money sitting on the fence than the other could in plowing the fields. So he spent considerable time on the fence! The other felt aggrieved at having to divide up evenly after having done so much of the labor. Finally they divided their holdings, built a fence between them, and for 20 years did not speak to each other, though living only a few rods apart. So they forfeited all fellowship to the pride that neither would yield. Any neighbor who tried to effect a reconciliation found his effort stopped with the attitude of each brother who insisted, “I’ll not be the first to forgive.”

Pride locks the heart in varied and numerous situations. Age may be intolerant of youth. And youth may retain a “courteous contempt for age!” A good family or community needs both age and youth, wherein the spirit of the Lord gives the grace of humility. “Your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions”[Joel 2: 28], and they shall do it together, each enriching the other. When men get exalted in heart, God resists their pride. And their natures contract and their natural enjoyments are reduced.

There was the writer who had monopolized the group conversation with his own achievements and plans. Finally he got the signal that enough was enough of that. So he said, “Well, enough about myself. Let’s hear from you. What do you think of my latest book?”

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One factor that makes the poor in spirit divinely happy is that they are not sensitive about getting their so-called rights. This saves them from getting hurt when recognition is not accorded them. And they do not cherish grudges. To be free of these terrible burdens is freedom indeed!

If one feels constantly cheated, the very belief that he is always being cheated steals his peace of mind and robs him of his friendships. The poor in spirit may fend off both arrogance and wounded self-pride. Immunity to the uneasiness of petty insults and little anxieties is part of the kingdom of heaven.

Moreover, the poor in spirit are helped toward happiness by a deep sense of gratitude. They can see God’s goodness to them, when they know that they have not deserved any particularly large portion of His favor. And the poor in spirit, feeling themselves to be stewards, rather than ultimate owners of victory’s fruit, are largely freed from the selfish fear of loss. They are concerned, of course, for the good and full use of the property for which they are responsible. But such proper concern is far different from the worry and scheming over property as a source of the power and pleasure and prestige that we are so eager to get and so fearful of losing.

A friend is one whom we value and admire and love for himself. We spoil our friendships when we try to use our “friend” for our own benefit.

I once knew a fellow who could be classified as more than an acquaintance. He called me up with the warmest tone of voice. [etc. George Wright] [soldier of South Pacific who stopped shooting birds with gun in favor of shooting them with camera] [stopped trapping for his own fun and tried to understand the birds]

So it is with people.

The poor in spirit keep consciences sensitive by constant comparison with Christ. When they are saved from pride, it is that they are saved from smugness by the purity of the Master’s sinlessness.

The Eternal can dwell in their hearts.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, March 20, 1955.