Humility can be amazingly potent when applied in the proper way.
Sometimes it is the only legitimate choice when it comes to preventing personal disasters.
Abigal’s story in I Samuel 25 is an excellent example.
During David’s years of hiding from King Saul in the wilderness, David had provided protection from rampaging marauders for people who lived near his hideouts. And so, he thought it only fair to ask them for food help.
His efforts were rudely rebuffed by a man named Nabal.
David responded by pledging to kill every male in Nabal’s camp.
Nabal’s wife Abigail learned of her husband’s grave error and quickly loaded up donkeys with hundreds of pounds of food and went out to meet David before he reached the camp.
It wasn’t her fault, but she knew her failure to act would lead to her great loss.
Abigail decided it was better to vicariously apologize and give David some of her family’s possessions and preserve their lives than it was to give nothing and then lose everything.
I encourage you to read the story by clicking here. It’s a wonderful study in character, quick thinking and the power of humility.
You might be in a situation now where showing humility can save you a lot of future hassle.
You might not even be the one who messed up toward an influential relative or a debt-holding bank or toward an almost-out-of-patience IRS. If you’re on the verge of suffering “payback” because of a family member’s error, however, then you should plead with that family member to humbly apologize for the offense and make a generous statement of restitution.
If he or she refuses, then perhaps following Abigail’s example is in order.
After all, she was going to suffer because of Nabal’s choice so it WAS her business to get involved by doing what God led her to do.
Remember that it’s always better to humbly give up something than it is to lose everything.
Most of us aren’t needing to do this just now. When we do find ourselves in the future standing at the intersection of pride and humility, let’s remember Abigail’s wonderful example of active, effective humility.
As always, I love you
Martin
