The Christian’s way of life is often riddled with paradoxes: namely, the more setbacks he experiences the more determined he becomes to “not neglect the grace of God he has received” (JB).
For he knows whatever he has received in this life is from God alone–not the result of his own merit–killing any hidden pride and vainglory inside of him.
He also knows whatever goods he receives in his life are undeserved.
“Isn’t that self-degradation?”, you might ask.
No, it’s humility. We shudder when we hear this word because in our pride and vainglory, we want to run from it.
Despite what the world says, humility is not a form of self-disparagement but supernatural self-knowledge (given by God) that enables us to see ourselves as we truly are, creatures totally dependent on God for our existence.
And (also despite what our culture says) there is true freedom in that.
Yes, humility sets us free.
Bound-up
We are no longer bound-up in our self-made prisons of self-indulgence, which rob us of our potential for true generosity.
We are no longer tied-down by cultural labels, which seek to minimize our identities to mere sexual beings, political members, or cogs in the machine of society; humility helps us to realize our true identities are beloved children of God.
Gratitude gives back
Our ability to express gratitude or thankfulness gives back to us our dignity as persons, and fills us up with the joy God intends for us.
It helps us to see the suffering Jesus Christ endured (and still endures) on our behalf, and we equally see His love for us, which in turn fills us with gratitude.
Like the Father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, God does not want to see us lost.
He wants us to reject the roads that lead to corruption and self-destruction, such as the Prodigal’s sexual immorality, excessive self-indulgence, and self-gratuitousness.
How this way of living robbed him of experiencing gratitude! He was instead left with profound alienation, loneliness, poverty and self-loathing.
How much of this we see in our culture today!
When the Prodigal Son returned to his father, he told him to treat himself as one of his father’s servants. Instead he was treated with underserved mercy.
“Aren’t I something?”
The bottom line is, we ungrateful creatures receive God’s love on a daily basis–regardless of our perceived “merit” or circumstances–yet He pours His goodness on the good and bad alike.
Like the Prodigal Son, God’s manifold gifts to us go unnoticed day-after-day, and we rob ourselves of experiencing gratitude, squandering the joy and peace we could have had.
So the next time we are tempted to think, “Aren’t I something?” We could change it to, “Isn’t God something?”, planting the seed of gratitude, which will surely sprout into joy.
Have a blessed day!