Tests for Humility

“For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke 9:48

This reminds me of a certain Congressman whose behaviour in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has gone viral. He arrogantly refused to remove his shoes and harassed the inspector in charge by seizing his ID. Sometimes we can really go off the deep end and I am just fortunate that there was no one with a camera the time I berated a waitress in an El Nido restaurant. That would have shown that I am totally unlike Jesus who though He is God, took the form of a servant. (Philippians 2:6) If we want to be like Jesus, we should not demand what we think we deserve, but should look for ways to serve. 

This is so counter culture. Our society today rewards the arrogant, the self-centered, and the vain. Don’t the most loud mouthed athletes, and the celebrities with the biggest egos end up with the biggest pay check most of the time? We need another Mother Teresa for this generation. She wasted her life on the least of the least and it was God who gave her honor. God promises us so much if we are humble. He promises His presence, forgiveness, healing, peace, wisdom, prosperity, and yes, honor. 

We do not realize it but God tries to teach us humility every day. There’s a test for us every day. I am sorry to say that I fail a lot of times. If we see a piece of paper on the road, or at the mall, do we bend down to pick it up, or do we ignore it because someone else is paid to clean up? Harley Sy at the opening of the Mall of Asia, saw a puddle of water at the entrance of the Surplus Shop. We saw him bend down and mop it up with a rag. He did not call someone to clean it. I think that’s one of the reasons why the Sy family is super successful. That was a powerful lesson for his employees, and for me.