Humility Is Loving and Forgiving

 
Some people have difficulty saying, “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. You were right.” Why? Too much pride! Yet, how often a genuine apology could easily put a stop to a marital altercation.
 
Are you willing to forgive when someone offends you? Or, in your pride, do you hold a grudge, perhaps for days and months, refusing to speak to the supposed offender? Do you even carry on a vendetta in an effort to get even? People have been murdered in some vendettas. In others, character assassination has been the method. In contrast, a humble person is loving and forgiving. Why? Because love does not keep account of the injury. Jehovah was willing to forgive the Israelites if they would swallow their pride. The humble follower of Jesus is willing to forgive, even repeatedly!—Joel 2:12-14; Matthew 18:21, 22; 1 Corinthians 13:5.
 
A humble person ‘takes the lead in showing honor to another.’ (Romans 12:10) The New International Version reads: “Honor one another above yourselves.” Do you praise others and appreciate their abilities and talents? Or do you always have to find a defect to take the shine off their reputation? Yes, are you capable of genuinely praising other people? If you have difficulty in this respect, perhaps personal insecurity and pride are your problems.
 
A proud person is impatient. A humble person is patient and long-suffering. What about you? Do you prickle at any perceived unfavorable treatment? Such a reaction is the opposite of being long-suffering. If you are humble, you will not take yourself too seriously. Remember what happened when Jesus’ disciples took themselves too seriously—they got into heated disputes about who was to be the most important. They forgot that they were all “good-for-nothing slaves”!—Luke 17:10; 22:24; Mark 10:35-37, 41.
 
French writer Voltaire described humility as “the modesty of the soul . . . the antidote to pride.” Yes, humility is lowliness of mind. A humble person is modest in spirit, not proud. He is deeply respectful and courteous.
 
So why strive to be humble? Because humility has God’s approval and helps us to obtain divine guidance. In part because of Daniel’s humility, Jehovah considered the prophet to be someone “very desirable” and sent an angel to him with a vision! (Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19) 

Humility brings many rewards. It brings true friends who love you. More than that, it brings Jehovah’s blessing. “The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and glory and life.”—Proverbs 22:4.