Being humble and self-restrained - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2

Being humble and self-restrained
In our time, moderation is hardly one of the most vaunted qualities. Be satisfied with less? No! Striving for more is much more the order of the day. Doesn’t advertising constantly try to convince us that we need this and that in order to be truly happy?

From a divine point of view, things are quite different. In the Bible, moderation is portrayed very positively, and not only in the Old Testament. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews urges us: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5). Therefore, the question for you and me might be: Is the planned new purchase really necessary? Instead of always having the latest mobile phone in your pocket, the existing one can surely serve its purpose for a while.

Solomon calls humble people wise people. He also gives a reason for this in Proverbs 11: He who is unpretentious has more opportunities to pass something on to others. Thus, he ultimately “wins”. “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right,but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:24–25).

Many Christians have experienced that giving to others does not make them poorer. When they have helped others materially or spiritually, they themselves have been enriched.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 9:1-14 · Psalms 91:1-8