Humility and Happiness

​Scriptural Reference:

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7 (ESV)

“‘But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.’” Luke 15:17,18 (ESV)

“But his officers tried to reason with him and said, ‘Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" 2 Kings 5:13 (NLT)

Application:
The biggest obstacle between ourselves and happiness is right before our eyes…if we happen to be looking in a mirror. 
That obstacle is our own pride. 
When we come to see ourselves in our pitiful selfishness, as the prodigal son did in Luke 15, we are ready to take the steps that lead to genuine joy. Sometimes, coming to ourselves happens when someone points out our pride to us, as the brave servants did to the mighty warrior, Naaman in 2 Kings 5:13. 

Pray that you don’t have to be humbled, because when it comes, it’s, well, “humiliating!”

How do we know when we taken on a humble personality? The litmus test is joy. Are we joyful that someone else has been favored by God, especially someone who once was lost? Joy toward someone else was the common denominator is all three of Jesus’ parables in Luke 15. The lost sheep in verse 6 (“Rejoice with me”), the lost coin in verse 9 (“Rejoice with me”), and the prodigal son in verse 23 (“they began to celebrate”). 

Taking your mind and heart off yourself and focusing on the betterment of others shows humility, which guarantees happiness.

Prayer:
“Dear God, I pray that you will gently teach me humility so that I may please You and serve others. In Your name, Amen.”