Tolle Lege: Take Up and Read
by Keith Mathison
I face something of a dilemma here that I believe C. J. Mahaney might
appreciate. He has written a wonderful book in which he seeks to share
insight on the practice of true humility and the conquest of pride.
However, as he and all authors know, a glowing book review is a great
temptation to pride for any author. I've read and (hopefully) benefited
from his book on humility, but I wonder how to write a positive review
without encouraging pride in the book's author -- in case he reads the
review. Therein lies the dilemma. In order to avoid this conundrum, and
to encourage humility in the author, it may be best to begin by
pointing out what I believe to be the major flaw in the book...
I wish it were longer.
Mahaney admits in the introduction to his book that he is not qualified
to speak as an authority on humility. None of us is. Mahaney is not
qualified to write this book because he is a living example of perfect
and complete humility. He is qualified to write this book, in my
opinion, because he knows he isn't. All of us have misplaced pride in
our lives, but because pride is so deceitful, not all of us are
consciously seeking ways to root it out. Mahaney does not write as one
who has "arrived," but as a fellow soldier who is fighting the same
battle.
The book is divided into three parts. In the first part, the true
nature of humility and pride are described. Mahaney defines humility as
"honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our
sinfulness." In short, true humility requires an accurate understanding
of who God is and who we are.
Pride, on the other hand, obscures a true knowledge of God. C.S. Lewis
said it well: "In God you come up against something which is in every
respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that
-- and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison -- you do not
know God at all. As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud
man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as
long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above
you."
Pride was the sin of Satan that led to his fall. It was the sin of
Adam, who wanted to be "like God." Pride truly goes before destruction
(Prov. 16:18).
In Part Two, Mahaney reveals that true humility requires a redefinition
of success. Our culture defines greatness in terms of the self:
self-sufficiency, self-made men, self-accomplishment. Greatness,
biblically defined, means "serving others for the glory of God."
According to Jesus, "whoever would be great among you must be your
servant" (Mark 10:43). True greatness in Scripture is an expression of
true humility. It is exemplified in the life of Jesus. It is
demonstrated most clearly in the sacrificial death of Jesus on the
cross.
Part Three of the book is devoted to practical application. In this
section, Mahaney looks at ways we can encourage the growth of humility
and root out pride every day of our lives. He reminds us to begin each
day by reflecting on the wonder of the cross. As Carl Henry once said,
"How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross?" We should
begin each day by acknowledging our dependence on God and our gratitude
to God. We should end each day by giving God the glory for the grace we
have received that day.
Mahaney also encourages all of us to spend extended periods of time
studying what the Bible teaches about the nature of God, our
sinfulness, and God's work of salvation. He also encourages us to laugh
often. Prideful men cannot laugh because they are too concerned about
their own dignity. And for those who are really serious about
cultivating humility, Mahaney recommends, with a smile, that they take
up the sport of golf. Anyone who has ever attempted to play golf will
know why.
In order to further weaken pride and grow in humility, we should look
for evidence of growth in grace in our families and in our churches,
and we should look for opportunities to encourage others. We should
also seek correction from others because we are very often blind to the
sins in our life that are obvious to others.
Mahaney concludes his book by exhorting all of us to respond in
humility to suffering and trials. This is, of course, far easier said
than done, for none of us enjoys suffering in and of itself. Suffering
does, however, tend to remind us of our lack of self-sufficiency, and
in doing so, it weakens sinful pride. I cannot recommend this work more
highly, for there are none of us who does not need to hear its call to
true humility and true greatness.
Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney is available here.
*****
Dr. Keith A. Mathison is an associate editor of Tabletalk magazine and will be writing the book reviews for Tolle Lege this year.
Read select Tabletalk columns from the June edition here.
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