上帝喜爱谦卑的人。在圣经里有许多经节高度赞扬了谦卑，同时也谴责了骄傲自大。那么什么是谦卑呢？怎么样才是谦虚了呢？谦卑，基本上就是不要把自己想象得那么重要。一个谦虚的人不以他的成功为荣、不炫耀他的技术、也不吹嘘他的伟大或者崇高。所罗门王（公元前970~931年）教导了他的儿子谦卑的重要性。他在圣经《箴言》第十一章第二节写道，“骄傲给你带来的是羞辱，而谦虚却使你更有智慧”。骄傲使你看不到真实的情况，而且会让你蒙受羞辱，甚至毁坏你的一生，因为你自以为比他人都高瞻远瞩。当一个真正的高人出现的时候，那些自高自大的人就会在现实面前痛苦地蒙受羞辱。

在一九八六年的夏天，有两艘船在俄罗斯的黑海里向撞。成百的乘客掉在冰冷的海水里死去。事后对事故调查的新闻更是让人吃惊，因为事故发生原因不是由于技术的故障比如雷达误导或者大雾什么的。这么大的一个事故的发生竟然完全是因为人们的固执！两艘船的船长都知道对方的船就在前面，双方完全可以让开，愉快地通行。但是调查的报告说，两个船长都不肯让道，因为他们都高傲到不愿意首先让道。但是当他们发觉情况不对劲的时候，已经为时过晚了。*

所罗门王还教导他的儿子说，谦卑的人是个有智慧的人。显然一个谦卑的人就会从他人的身上学到很多的知识，会变得更加有智慧。谦卑的人明白自己不可能对所有的事情都有答案，所有他必定会向他人学习，从而得到提高。

在圣经《马太福音》第二十三章第11~12节里，耶稣也说过这样的话，“你们中间谁愿意当头头的，就应当作你们的佣人。因为饭自高自大的必被降为卑贱，而谦虚自卑的必被提升为高。”祂教导祂的门徒要把自己看得比别人低。在上帝的国里，最重要的人就是那些不仅有谦虚的心态，而且以行动来为他人服务的人。忠心跟随耶稣的使徒保罗是一位伟大的宣道者。他曾说，“要彼此同心，不可心高气傲，倒要俯就卑微的；不可自以为聪明”。一个谦卑的人先考虑别人需要什么，然后才想自己需要什么。当他看到有人有某一个需要，或者有一件事情需要把它做好，他就自告奋勇地把这些事情给做了。他不会想，“让别人来做好了。这些事不值得我来做。”谦虚是讨上帝喜悦的，谦虚的人也从上帝那里得着属天的平安。

新词汇：

Boast = Brag – 自夸、吹牛；以……为荣

Distorting – 扭曲、模糊不清；我头疼得厉害，使我的眼睛都花了。

Collided – 撞上了什么东西

讨论问题：

1.  你是不是觉得做一个谦卑的人很难？为什么？

2.  为什么谦卑的人有智慧？

3.  为什么骄傲自大会给人带来羞辱？

4.  为什么谦卑讨上帝的喜悦？

5.  你是不是一个谦虚的人？

God loves people who are humble. The Bible is full of verses that speak highly of humility and condemns pride or arrogance. So, what is humility? What does it mean to be humble? Basically, it is to think less of your own importance. A humble person does not boast about his success or his skills or his greatness. King Solomon (970-931BC) taught his son about the importance of being humble. He wrote that “when pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.” [Proverbs 11:2] Pride has a way of distorting truth or reality for a person. Prideful people can easily go to their destruction or be shamed because they think they are better than everyone else. The truth can be painful and bring shame when the prideful person meets someone who is greater than himself.

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.* 

Solomon also teaches his son that a humble man has wisdom. Of course, the humble man would grow in wisdom because he is willing to learn from others. The humble man knows that he does not have all the answers and should always be willing to learn and to grow.

Jesus spoke similar words in Matthew, the 23rd chapter: “The most important person among you will be your servant.  Anyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And anyone who is brought down will be lifted up.” [23:11-12] He is telling his followers to think of themselves as being lower than others. The most important people in God’s kingdom are the people who are servants in actions and in attitude. Paul, a great teacher and follower of Jesus, said it like this: “Agree with each other. Don’t be proud. Be willing to be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Don’t think that you are better than others.” [Romans 12:16] A humble person thinks of the needs of other people before he thinks of his own needs. If he sees a need or a job which needs to be done then he volunteers to do it. He will not think, “Let someone else do that, such work is beneath me.” Humility is pleasing to God, and such a person finds peace in God.

GLOSSARY:

Boast = Brag – to tell others about your success in a prideful way

Distorting – to distort is to make unclear. My head hurt so bad my vision was distorted. It means I could not see clearly.

Collided – to crash into something.

* http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/h/humility.htm

QUESTIONS:

1.    Do you think it is hard to be humble? Why or why not?

2.    Why does wisdom come to humble people?

3.    Why does shame come to prideful people?

4.    Why is humility pleasing to God?

5.    How about you? Does humility describe you?