8月27日

標　　題：自我謙卑

經　　節：因為，凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高。（路加福十四章11節）

有兩種方式會得到別人最高的敬意。一個是世界的方法：捉住每個機會在眾人面前表揚自己，抓住每個被賞識的時機，並且操縱環境，好得到眾人的注目。另一個是神的方法：謙卑自己。寧願先求他人的益處，不努力贏得眾人注目，及得到有影響力的職位。要培養謙卑，因為它不是自然而然就能擁有的。基督徒生活有個看似自相矛盾的道理，就是當神看到你真誠的謙卑自己，祂反而高舉你。

箴言十六章18節警告我們，驕傲在敗壞之先，狂心在跌倒之前。耶穌曾經提到一個想提高自己形像的人（路加福音十四：7∼11）。當他去赴宴席時，馬上跑去坐首位。結果主人看到了，就要他讓位給更尊貴的客人，他只好羞愧地坐到較低的位置上。耶穌說，最有智慧的作法是先去坐末位，如果主人看你為尊貴，他自會請你到首位落座。

世界尊榮你的方式與神尊榮你的方式，是截然不同的。箴言廿五章27節指出，尋求自己榮耀是不對的。當世界高舉你的時候，你就得到了功勞。如果你尊重神，神必重看你（撒母耳記上二：30）。要竭盡全力謙卑自己，把榮耀歸給神。以討祂歡喜的態度尊榮祂，祂必重看你。

Humble Yourself

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:11)

There are two ways to attain high esteem. One is the world’s method: Take every opportunity to promote yourself before others; seize occasions for recognition and manipulate your way into the center of attention. The other way is God’s way: Humble yourself. Rather than striving for recognition and influential positions, seek to put others first. Cultivate humility, for it does not come naturally. One of the many paradoxes of the Christian life is that when God sees your genuine humility, He exalts you.

Proverbs 16:18 warns that if we put our efforts into promoting ourselves, we will be brought down. Jesus told of a man who tried to enhance his own image (Luke 14:7–11). While attending a banquet, he immediately claimed the seat of honor. When the host saw this, he humiliated this man by asking him to move to the least honorable place to make room for a more distinguished guest. Jesus said the wise thing to do is to seek the lowest position and allow others to exalt you if they feel you are worthy.

There is an enormous difference between the way the world honors you and the way God does. Proverbs 25:27 indicates that glory is not legitimate if you seek it yourself. When the world exalts you, you are the one who receives the credit. When God exalts you, others will praise Him for what He has done in your life. If you honor God, He will honor you (1 Sam. 2:30). Strive to humble yourself and bring glory to God. Allow Him to be the One to honor you in the way that pleases Him!