How do we know if we are humble? C. S. Lewis helped with this definition: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” I love the story of the Pastor who wrote the book, “Humility and how I attained it.” This prompted me once to write a bit of doggerel: “Those who claim to have attained, have not gained but merely feigned true humility.”
David may not have known he was humble, but he lived it. In the way he refused to harm Saul and Absalom, we see authentic selflessness. Never more powerfully, though, do we see David’s humility than in these words as he entrusted the materials to build the temple to his son, Solomon. His prayer of praise in the preceding verses is exemplary. Then he prays, “Who am I and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this.” David’s humility empowered his generosity.
What can we learn from David? Everything we have comes from the Lord. Recognizing our own frailty, we give back to God the lives we owe. Like David, we are grateful to get to give and we ask God to judge our hearts. Chuck Swindoll used to say, “When the heart is right, the feet are swift.” One last thing: humility is so contagious. When David bowed his heart before God publicly, all the people of Israel fell on their faces before God. It is so hard to be high and mighty when we are on our faces prostrate before God. What a great way to live.
