Nebuchadnezzar by William Blake

I am resuming my meditations on the Gospel of Matthew! Welcome! Please click below to let me take you through the meditation.

3 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “Everything the teachers of the law and the Pharisees do is done for people to see. They love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplace.

“But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23 3-7)

 

“Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who

humble themselves will be exalted.” And so, Jesus states a law

of life. Those who broadcast their amazingness will be humbled,

since God dislikes–scorns that, as much as people do.  For to

trumpet our success, wealth, brilliance, giftedness or popularity

is to get distracted from the purpose for which we were created

into pointless, worthless activity. Those who love power, who are

sure they know best, and who must be the best, will eventually be

humbled by God and life. For their focus has shifted from loving

God, doing good work, and being a blessing to their family, friends,

and the world towards trying to impressing others, being enviable,

perhaps famous. These things are houses built on sand, which will

crumble when hammered by the waves of old age, infirmity or adversity.

 

God resists the proud, Scripture tells us–those who strive

for the admiration, attention and power which is His alone

but He helps the humble. So how do we resist pride? We

slow down, so that we realise (and repent) when sheer pride

sparks our allergies to people, our enmities, our determination

to have our own way, or our grandiose pride-driven goals, and

ambitions. Once we stop chasing limelight or showing off, a

great quietness steals over our lives. We no longer need the drug

of continual achievement, or to share images of glittering travel,

parties, prizes or friends. We just enjoy them quietly. My life is

for itself & not for a spectacle, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote.

And, as Jesus advises, we don’t sharp-elbow ourselves to

the most prominent place with the shiniest people, but are

content to hang out with ordinary people, where we may

learn new things, and develop our character, kindness and

empathy, if not our network. And then, as Jesus said, we will

inevitably, eventually, be summoned higher to where, perhaps,

the conversation is heady and sparkling, or perhaps upwards

to sit with those of a gentle, humble and radiant heart.

 

So how do we cultivate humility? J I Packer suggests: “Consider

everything you know about yourself. If other people knew it,

would they esteem you? They would all think, ‘What a rascal!’

So, why are you esteeming yourself better than anyone else?”

 

One day, every knee will bow before the gentle lamb

who was slain, now seated on the throne. We will all be silent

before him. Let us live gently then, our eyes on Christ,

continually asking for his power, his Spirit, and his direction,

moving, dancing, in the direction that we sense him move.

 

Let’s conclude our meditation with a brilliant passage from John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress on the beauty of choosing a quiet meaningful life, instead of one with pride-driven pursuits. Bunyan’s pilgrim, called Christian, is humbled in the course of his spiritual life, and finds himself in what Bunyan calls the Valley of Humiliation. The omniscient narrator writes:

“But we come again to this Valley of Humiliation.  It is the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all these parts.  It is fat, fertile ground, and consists much in meadows; and if a man were to come here in the summer-time as we do now, he might see that which would be delightful to him.  Behold how green this valley is; also how beautiful with lilies.  I have also known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation.  (For God resists the proud, but gives more grace to the humble.)  For, indeed, it has very fruitful soil, and brings forth by handfuls.  Some also have wished that the next way to their Father’s house were here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over; but the way is the way, and there’s an end.

Now as they were going along and talking, they spied a boy feeding his father’s sheep.  The boy was in very humble clothes, but of a very fresh and well-favoured countenance; and as he sat by himself, he sang,

“He that is down needs fear no fall;

He that is low, no pride;

He that is humble ever shall

Have God to be his guide.

 

I am content with what I have,

Little be it, or much:

And, Lord, contentment still I crave,

Because thou savest such.

 

Fullness to those a burden is

That go on pilgrimage;

Here little, and hereafter bliss,

Is best from age to age.

 

Then said the guide, “Do you hear him?  I will dare to say that this boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of that herb called heart’s-ease in his bosom than he that is clad in silk and velvet.

In this valley, our Lord formerly had his country-house; he loved much to be here; he loved also to walk these meadows, for he found the air was pleasant.

Besides, here a man shall be free from the noise and from the hurryings of this life.  All states of life are full of noise and confusion; only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be so obstructed and hindered in his contemplation as in other places he is apt to be.  This is a valley that no one walks in, but those that love a pilgrim’s life.  I must tell you that in former times men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life.”