Years ago, Mac Davis had a hit song entitled “Lord, It’s Hard to Be Humble.”  The song had catchy lyrics and really caught on.  Whenever it was played, people would sing along. 

            The lyrics were;

            “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.

            I can’t wait to look in the mirror.  Cause I get better looking each day.

            To know me is to love me… I must be a h… of a man.

            Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble.  But I’m doing the best that I can.”

            The theme of that song deals with a challenge we face.  Most of us do not like to admit we need help or that we made a mistake.  We have a tendency to get defensive or to deny we made a mistake.

            There is a slogan that I’ve seen over the years that goes “I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.”  We laugh at that and we may even have the slogan in our office or home, but it touches on the problem we have with humility.  We have a difficult time admitting we are wrong.

            Growing up, I loved to watch the television series “Happy Days.”  The main character was Arthur Fonzarelli or, “The Fonz.”  “Fonz” had a hard time admitting he was wrong.  One time, someone told he had made a mistake and needed to apologize.  Fonz stood in front of the mirror and had to practice saying “I was wrong.”  And, he had a difficult time saying it!  Admitting we have made a mistake can be a challenge for us. 

            Humility is a problem for us. 

            But in Ephesians 3:14, the apostle Paul says “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father.”   To bow your knees was an indication of humility. 

            Jesus said in the Sermon-on-the-Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). 

            Yet, humility is a key to growth.  Humility is very important n relationships.  If there are relational problems, both people involved must humbly ask for advice.  If only one person is willing to work on issues then the problem is not likely to be resolved. 

            Isaac Newton said “If I have seen farther than others it’s by standing on the shoulders of giants.” 

I Peter 5:6 says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time..”

            An old hymn expressed our need for humility.  The lyrics are;          

“When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the prince of glory died.

            Thy richest gain, I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.”

            “Forbid it Lord that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God;

            All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.”

             This week, like Paul, “bow your knee (humble yourself) before the Father.”