Humility is not a value that gets built into most peoples' lives. While we may look askance at arrogance or self-centeredness, the true nature of humility often remains unexplored. Looking at the expectations of the servant, through the "capable wife" of Proverbs 31, and in Jesus' teaching to the disciples who argued over who among them was greatest, we can discover the depth of this orientation that can be empowering.
(Yes, I used the rock band's album cover.)
The extensive description of the "capable wife" that closes the book of Proverbs is an amazing inventory of skills, knowledge, determination, sacrifice, ethics, productivity, caring, and above all, wisdom.
These are the closing words of a primary text of Wisdom literature, Proverbs. Wisdom thought and literature form a rather populist interpretation of living a faithful and righteous life, and it becomes a major stream in Jewish thought. As Jews become more spread throughout the world - the diaspora, or dispersion - they are somewhat removed from the culture and society of lawful observance, ritual activities, and the like. Wisdom becomes a bridge to the values of Torah-Law without getting into its details. Even Jesus' teachings echo Wisdom - the Sermon on the Mount being a rather clear example.
The "capable wife" is the servant without comparison, more rare and more valuable than precious jewels. Her humility is noteworthy in that all of the achievements ascribed to her are not oriented toward self but toward others. In this, she becomes the personification of Lady Wisdom, Sophia, and a fitting "epilogue" to Proverbs.
Her life of serving and the call to acknowledge and praise her stand in total contrast to Jesus' disciples in Mark 9 wqho have been walking along, arguing among themselves over who is the greatest. Having failed at multiple levels in precdeding stories, one wonders how they ever thought themselves greatest when they had accomplished so little. But knowing human nature, maybe that isn't so unusual.
They never answer Jesus when he asks about the topic of their discussion. His query must have gotten them to realize how foolish they were being. Despite their silence, Jesus seems to know full well what they were debating. It's lesson time.
Taking and setting the child before them, Jesus teaches that the best or greatest must become as one of the least. (It is NOT to esteem the value of the child, just the opposite!)
Humility in the disciple of any age is a key aspect, and you can check out the whole thing with the sermon video below, and with the downloads below the video panel.
(Yes, I used the rock band's album cover.)
The extensive description of the "capable wife" that closes the book of Proverbs is an amazing inventory of skills, knowledge, determination, sacrifice, ethics, productivity, caring, and above all, wisdom.
These are the closing words of a primary text of Wisdom literature, Proverbs. Wisdom thought and literature form a rather populist interpretation of living a faithful and righteous life, and it becomes a major stream in Jewish thought. As Jews become more spread throughout the world - the diaspora, or dispersion - they are somewhat removed from the culture and society of lawful observance, ritual activities, and the like. Wisdom becomes a bridge to the values of Torah-Law without getting into its details. Even Jesus' teachings echo Wisdom - the Sermon on the Mount being a rather clear example.
The "capable wife" is the servant without comparison, more rare and more valuable than precious jewels. Her humility is noteworthy in that all of the achievements ascribed to her are not oriented toward self but toward others. In this, she becomes the personification of Lady Wisdom, Sophia, and a fitting "epilogue" to Proverbs.
Her life of serving and the call to acknowledge and praise her stand in total contrast to Jesus' disciples in Mark 9 wqho have been walking along, arguing among themselves over who is the greatest. Having failed at multiple levels in precdeding stories, one wonders how they ever thought themselves greatest when they had accomplished so little. But knowing human nature, maybe that isn't so unusual.
They never answer Jesus when he asks about the topic of their discussion. His query must have gotten them to realize how foolish they were being. Despite their silence, Jesus seems to know full well what they were debating. It's lesson time.
Taking and setting the child before them, Jesus teaches that the best or greatest must become as one of the least. (It is NOT to esteem the value of the child, just the opposite!)
Humility in the disciple of any age is a key aspect, and you can check out the whole thing with the sermon video below, and with the downloads below the video panel.
| 09-20-15-ff-answers.pdf |
| 09-20-15-servant_humility.pdf |