Recently, I’ve been parallel-reading the New Living Translation, and The Message. (For a discussion of different versions of the Bible, click here.) This week I came to Luke 14:11.
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (New Living Translation)
I’ve heard sermons about humility. It’s a cardinal virtue, but struggle with living it. It always feels like a denial of my thoughts, abilities and self. How is that good?
So what do other versions say?
Whoever makes himself look more important than he is will find out how little he is worth. Whoever does not try to honor himself will be made important.” (New Life Version)
“How little he is worth?” How is anyone of little worth for whom Christ died?
I looked further.
“Remember this: everyone with a lofty opinion of who he is and who seeks to raise himself up will be humbled before all. And everyone with a modest opinion of who he is and chooses to humble himself will be raised up before all.” (The Passion Translation)
So maybe pride is opinion plus choice: thinking I am “more,” and acting on it. But what if I still think I’m “more” but don’t act on it? That seems like shouting, “Look, everybody! See how humble I am!” That’s wrong, too.
Then I read The Message:
What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. (v 11a)
So if I’m exalting myself, I am probably not looking where I’m going, and am likely to trip over my own feet while everyone watches. Not good.
The verse continues:
But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” (v 11b)
Content to be simply myself. All of myself, though: the good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, the warts, the scars, the successes, the failures, the ups, the downs. Everything that makes me the crazy mixed–up human muddle I am. No picking and choosing.
Because that’s who God sees, that’s who God loves. And that’s who God is transforming into something more than myself. It’s all Him, not me. That’s pretty humbling.
And because when I clearly see my whole self, I realize that I have more than enough to be humble about.