The humble and the proud

WE have to learn to know whether we are truly humble or are already treading the path of pride. With these confusing times, many of us do not know anymore which side of this issue we already are. Deceptive and illusive elements are so plenty that we really need some effort to discern which is which in our case.

One way to distinguish between the two is to examine how we think about this particular issue. The humble usually thinks that he is still proud, and so he continues to find ways of how to grow in humility. The proud thinks in the reverse. He usually thinks he is already humble, and so he kind of seals his pride and even worsens it.

The humble person tries to keep a low profile while doing his best to fulfill his duties. He likes to pass unnoticed, to avoid attracting attention and to shun praises. His joy is the awareness that what he is doing is simply for the glory of God and for no other human glory. He is always thinking of God and of the others.

He is not afraid to make sacrifices. In fact, he welcomes them and even looks for them. He is also willing to let go of certain privileges. Yes, he is more concerned about duties than about rights. He does things with pure intentions, without counting the cost and fishing for rewards. What he does is done always in gratis, with a heart filled with love.

The proud person, on the other hand, likes to bask in the limelight, flaunting whatever he has, strutting his stuff, and even puffing up what he thinks is not up to par. He is kind of obsessed with gaining public attention and praises. In short, he is after his own glorification. God and the others are at best mere props, means and occasions to achieve his own glorification. It’s an I-me-mine world for him.

Thus, he can also mimic some forms of piety, if the occasion requires it. He can appear to be humble, generous and magnanimous to others if it serves his vanity. He is prone to expecting and even demanding privileges and entitlements. He is averse to making sacrifices. And if he goes through some of them, it is for the sake of his pride and vanity.

The humble person is usually patient and tolerant without compromising the essential. He is willing to suffer and bear the burdens of the others, even to the point of becoming a martyr, misunderstood and scorned. He is quick to forgive others and even tries to find excuses for them.

The proud person, on the other hand, is usually impatient and irritable, and hardly has any concern about the essentials in life and in faith. He cleverly distances from any occasion that will inconvenience him, although he likes to appear always as a hero. He is usually judgmental and a fault-finder. He likes to put down others to bring himself up.

The humble person hardly talks about himself or makes references to himself. He only thinks of God and of the others, of how he can give glory to God and how he can serve the others. He is self-effacing even if he happens to do a heroic act. He is always at peace and cheerful

The proud person does the opposite. Every chance he has to talk about himself, he grabs it. He is notoriously self-conscious. His mind and heart are usually in constant jumble, unable to sort out things properly.

We need to examine ourselves closely to see where we are in this particular issue. Times are confusing, and it’s easy to be deceived, not so much by others as by our own selves.