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REVIEW - Humility: True Greatness
By daniel | October 6, 2005
Humility: True Greatness, by CJ Mahaney, by CJ Mahaney is a great book, that will stay with my books when it is not being borrowed, and will be read by me again, hopefully, at least in parts, once a year or every other year. Everyone's first thought on a book about humility is, who is this pretentious author? Well, I can tell you - this is no pretentious book. The author does not pretend to have it all together, but I find him unnervingly insightful into the harmful work of pride as it works in the heart, and into the accurate view of oneself that we call humility.
It's mostly comprised of helpful suggestions for our lives in promoting humility. These suggestions (a few listed below) are super-helpful, and we would all do well to heed the author's advice, on almost every area he touches.
Personally, there's a cutting undertone to my reading of this book - and it's my pride. This book hurts my pride, simply by revealing it. In reading over practical suggestions, I hear myself think, 'Oh, that's nice to know. If I ever need that, I'll know about it. I'm much better for knowing that.' If that response wasn't troublesome enough, the next line in the book I'll read typically says something about the readers not presuming to be better for having read a book about humility — really crushing me right there. Most excellent.
Also excellent were his thoughts on 'greatness.' This is something I've never heard spelled out, but the people who are great in the kingdom are the humble servants. Do we consider these people great? Do we generate an environment where this is honored? Best yet, do we have an environment that can create truly great people?
This was a great book. I'll call it a must-read.
I spent my reading of this book writing down his suggestions, and things I found useful, and then at the end of the book, he lists them out for me, making all my list very moot. How much better could it be? Here's the stuff he mentions in this list that I found:
As Each Day Begins:
Begin your day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for God.
Begin your day expressing gratefulness to God.
Practice the spiritual disciplines?prayer, study of God?s Word, worship. Do this consistently each day and at the day?s outset, if possible.
Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
As Each Day Ends:
At the end of the day, transfer the glory to God.
Before going to sleep, receive this gift of sleep from God and acknowledge His purpose for sleep.
Throughout Your Days and Weeks:
Laugh often, and laugh often at yourself.
Identify evidences of grace in others.
Encourage and serve others each and every day.
Invite and pursue correction.
Respond humbly to trials.
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