Humility—Zeal

Humility—Zeal

Humility is one of Christ’s virtues. Jesus said: “I am meek and lowly of heart”; i.e., in truth and not just outwardly.

Humility is not weakness, timidity, or cowardice. On the contrary! We could say that it is strong and without fear. Humility is being lowly in one’s own eyes. He who is lowly in his own eyes stays appropriately and unobtrusively in the background; if not, he is definitely not humble.

You can give in to one thing or another, to strong spirits and to “distinguished” flesh, and then you smile and appear to be so humble; but it is blended with lying and hypocrisy, and has the effect of corrupting myself and the people, in contrast to true humility that releases grace from God. Humility is the key to strength and boldness for victory and progress. It makes you firm and confident, not self-confident, but confident in the belief that you will receive grace from God for help in everything you will have to endure.

Zeal is not carnal eagerness on behalf of God that no power is able to bend. It is driven forth by a pure and noble mind that has man’s well-being at heart, instead of gain for itself.

It is like Jesus says, “Because of his persistence . . . .” Zeal doesn’t care about personal preferences. It knows that its effect is good because its strength is in God Himself.

Zeal is as hard as death. Song of Sol. 8:6. It is written about Jesus, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” John 2:17. Zeal consumed all of Jesus’ self-will and everything that was meant to be consumed in His life.

These two virtues: humility and zeal, are a good match and are absolutely necessary in order to advance on the way through the flesh. Humility produces grace from God (Jas. 4:6); it constrains us to be unassuming. Zeal drives us forward to the good and consumes us according to the flesh.