A Catch 22

My understanding is that this phrase comes from a military rule that the only way someone is unfit for battle is if he is insane. Claiming to be insane is the most sane thing someone might do, for if he was truly insane, he would not be asking. So, whether one claimed to be insane or not, they would not be released from service for that reason. It’s a no win situation. Now, a commander can declare that, but then that individual, if he is faking it, will likely never live a normal life again, thus still being a losing strategy. We run into those circumstances from time to time. One such concept is that of humility. Scripture tells us that we should be humble. Those that may want to show that they are humble, by that very act show that they are probably prideful, wanting to justify themselves. Humility is something you are, not something you do. C.S. Lewis put it this way, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.” Jesus never had to defend being humble, for His identity was being One with the Father. He didn’t need man’s consent. We don’t see God trying to defend Himself... for to whom would He need to justify Himself. When He told Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Moses asked for a sign that this was truly from God. The answer went something like this, “When you do what I tell you to do and then bring the people back here to this mountain, then you will know I have spoken.” Jesus humbled Himself at the Last Supper as he washed the disciple's feet to teach them to serve one another. In another passage it says, “If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, you have to be the servant of all.” In Romans 12 God tells us that we shouldn’t think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but to look at ourselves with somber judgement. The greatest example of thinking more of others than ourselves, is the journey to the cross, with all its suffering and shame. Jesus gained nothing personally from it, but through that act, He has opened paradise to us. So, if being humble is thinking more of others and less of ourselves, how are you doing? I’m not asking you to rate how humble you are, but rather what consumes much of your time and focus. The world points to our works, but humility points to God. Father, Help us to focus less on who we are and what we want to accomplish, and replace it with a deep devotion to You. Amen