8月27日
标 题：自我谦卑
经 节：因为，凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高。（路加福十四章11节）
有两种方式会得到别人最高的敬意。一个是世界的方法：捉住每个机会在众人面前表扬自己，抓住每个被赏识的时机，并且操纵环境，好得到众人的注目。另一个是神的方法：谦卑自己。宁愿先求他人的益处，不努力赢得众人注目，及得到有影响力的职位。要培养谦卑，因为它不是自然而然就能拥有的。基督徒生活有个看似自相矛盾的道理，就是当神看到你真诚的谦卑自己，祂反而高举你。
箴言十六章18节警告我们，骄傲在败坏之先，狂心在跌倒之前。耶稣曾经提到一个想提高自己形像的人（路加福音十四：7～11）。当他去赴宴席时，马上跑去坐首位。结果主人看到了，就要他让位给更尊贵的客人，他只好羞愧地坐到较低的位置上。耶稣说，最有智慧的作法是先去坐末位，如果主人看你为尊贵，他自会请你到首位落座。
世界尊荣你的方式与神尊荣你的方式，是截然不同的。箴言廿五章27节指出，寻求自己荣耀是不对的。当世界高举你的时候，你就得到了功劳。如果你尊重神，神必重看你（撒母耳记上二：30）。要竭尽全力谦卑自己，把荣耀归给神。以讨祂欢喜的态度尊荣祂，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!
