"Humility is the hallmark of [one] whom God can use, although it is not in the world's curriculum. In the realm of politics and commerce, humility is a quality neither coveted nor required. There the leader needs and seeks prominence and publicity. But in God's scale of values, humility stands high. Self-effacement, not self-advertisement, was Christ's definition of leadership."

—Spiritual Leadership, by J Oswald Sanders, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Ronald M Kete, South Africa

For more information on Spiritual Leadership, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802467997/fm082-20

During the winter of 2003, Senate Majority Leader Bill First paused from his busy schedule to help five victims of an SUV crash. The surprising thing about his act of kindness wasn’t that he stopped to render aid, especially since Senator First is a medical doctor; the surprising thing is the way he did it. He helped and he moved on without trying to make any political hay out of his Good Samaritan act. Florida’s Broward County Fire Rescue Captain Ken Kronheim said, “He sneaked out before he could get any thanks or glory—a true hero.”

Matthew 6:3 NIV “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,”

In the mid-1960's, little Jimmy Bradley sat in his third grade classroom staring at a picture on page 98 of his history book; it was a picture of his father. The photograph depicted six soldiers planting a flagpole into the rocks of Iwo Jima, one of the soldiers was Jimmy's father, John Bradley.

Bradley is the man the second from the right, his elbows extended, firmly holding onto the 100 pound flagpole. He appears to be supporting most of the weight, as the others help guide it into its resting place. This photograph became symbolic of World War II and Jimmy's father was a part of history. There he was, right in the middle of the photograph on page 98 of Jimmy's history book.

Jimmy's teacher drew the classes attention to the photograph on page 98 and to the man in the middle of the picture-Jimmy's Dad, and said, "John Bradley is a hero, and his son is sitting right here with us." Jimmy was as proud as any son had ever been of his father.

That night, he couldn't wait for his Dad to come home from work. When he came through the door, Jimmy cried out, "Daddy, Daddy, come here, there's something I want to show you." John Bradley walked over to his son, saying "What is it?" "Right here Daddy, on page 98, it's your picture. My teacher said you are a hero. She wants to know if you'll speak to our class."

Jimmy was surprised by his Dad's reaction. "Come over here and sat down," his Dad said. Sitting next to his Daddy, Jimmy knew that his Dad was going to tell him the story. "Jimmy," his Dad said, "your teacher said something about heroes today, and well …" John Bradley paused as Jimmy stared into his eyes. "The real heroes are the men that came back in body bags."

That was all he said. No war stories. No embellishments. Just, "The real heroes are the men that came back in body bags."

Jimmy's Dad didn't say another word about it until six years later. It was an ordinary evening sitting at home watching television when Jimmy asked his Dad about it again. All he could get out of his Dad was that he spent most of his life trying to forget about the terrors of war and didn't want to talk about it. He did talk about his buddy from Milwaukee that he shared a fox hole with. Someone cried out for a corpsman, so Bradley left the fox hole to go and treat the wounded, when he returned, his buddy was gone and nobody knew where he was. A few days later they found him. The enemy captured and tortured him to death. Jimmy was speechless, and never violated his father's privacy again by asking about the war.

After his father's death in 1994, Jimmy discovered a Navy Cross, with an official citation among his father's private belongings. As it turned out, on the third day of the assault John Bradley witnessed the enemy mow down a soldier with machine gun fire. He grabbed his medical bag and ran across 30-yards of gunfire to his fallen comrade.

The man was in bad shape, Bradley was afraid he would die if he tried to move him, so he thrust the man's rifle, bayonet first, into the ground and hung a bag of plasma on it. With his back to the hostile gunfire, Bradley shielded the soldier while he administered first aid. Motioning to the others to say back, he pulled the Marine back to safety.

John Bradley never breathed a word of his heroism to anybody. Two sergeants and a captain reported what Bradley did, and as a result, he was awarded the Navy Cross.

Yes, Jimmy's teacher was right. John Bradley was a hero. He was a great man. And like most great men, he didn't talk about his accomplishments. Great men don't have to. Everybody recognizes greatness when they see it. Besides, to be truly great, a person has to be humble.

Matthew 20:26-27 NIV Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—

While standing on a subway platform, 20 year-old Cameron Hollopeter suffered an apparent seizure and fell between the tracks in front of an oncoming train. A stranger, 50 year-old construction worker Wesley Autrey left his little girls on the platform, jumped into the train's path, and shoved the disoriented student into the only place they could survive, the shallow drainage between the tracks. The train passed within 2 inches of the men, but both survived, although they had to wait twenty minutes for workers to turn off the powered third rail, so they could exit the tracks safely.

The next day, Autrey received a $5,000 dollar reward, a day off work, and recognition throughout the New York Press. Though the press painted him as a hero, Autrey had a different view of events. He told a reporter, "I just tried to do the right thing. It ain't about being a hero, it was being there and helping the next person. That's all I did."

—http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-02-subway-rescue_x.htm. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Peter 5:5-6 (CEV) "All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say, 'God opposes proud people, but he helps everyone who is humble.' [6] Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes."

In his book, "Revolution", George Barna writes, "We have no grounds for arrogance; we are lowly sinners incapable of earning salvation according to the rules. Knowing who and what we are, in comparison to the standard set by Jesus, should help us stay realistic."

Psalms 37:11 (HCSB) "But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity."

Quarterback of the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger took time to apologize to his family and fans hours after he was released from a hospital after being involved in an accident on his motorcycle. Rothlisberger was not wearing a helmet when he crashed into a car that turned left in front if him. The accident shattered the quarterback's jaw and gave him a mild concussion. Doctors said two rounds of tests showed no brain injuries. They used small titanium plates and screws to repair Rothlisberger's jaw and conducted seven hours of surgery to repair damage to other facial bones.

Rothlisberger said he was confident in his ability to ride a motorcycle and never thought such an accident could happen to him. He said if he ever rides a motorcycle again "it will certainly be with a helmet." In a statement released by the team, Rothlisberger said, "In the past few days, I've gained a new perspective on life. By the grace of God, I'm fortunate to be alive..."

—Associated Press, Rothlisberger Contrite, says He's Lucky, June 15, 2006 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Psalms 51:16-17 (NIV) "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

In his book, "Divine Intimacy", Vol 2, Father Gabriel writes, "All the injustices, accusations insults, misunderstandings and failures which we encounter in life are means to this; and by accepting them for the love of Christ, we open ourselves to the gift of his divine humility, and enter into the mystery of him who emptied himself for the glory of the Father and the salvation of mankind. By following Christ, humbled even to death on the cross, we take our place among those who give glory to God and help to save their brothers. Even the most stubborn are conquered and vanquished by humility."

Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom." (HCSB)

Science generally describes animal behavior in nature as fitting into the model "Survival of the Fittest" yet they have observed behavior in some creatures that goes against this thinking. One example is the Tanzanian cockroaches. The male cockroaches compete with each other to determine status, using rough wrestling matches. When the matches end, the males with the lowest status scamper off. Contrary to expectations, the stronger winning male cockroaches do not get the attention of female cockroaches. Researchers have discovered that high status males communicate using two primary scents, but the lowest status males use three scents. The female of the species prefer the third scent and are thus drawn to the lower status males. Research indicates the preference for low status males leads to fewer males being born in the following generations, and to fewer offspring overall. Scientists admit they are puzzled, because this arrangement goes against evolutionary ideas about natural selection. Observers could not find any kind of evolutionary advantage that would favor the development of this sort of behavior in the Tanzanian cockroach.

—Creation Moment, Survival of the Least Fit? March 1, 2005, reference: Science News 3/3/01, p. 135. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 5:5 (TEV) "Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!"

On March 25, 2005, Larry King interviewed Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church and author of the best-selling book, The Purpose-Driven® Life. King introduced the show by saying, "Tonight, evangelical superstar, Rick Warren in his first live prime time interview since that heroic hostage, Ashley Smith read his best-seller, "The Purpose Driven Life" to the Atlanta courthouse killing suspect, Brian Nichols. Hours later, Nichols let her go and surrendered to police." During the interview, Warren set the record straight about what changed Nichols. He said, "I don't think that my book has the power to change anybody. The book does happen to have over 1,500 Bible verses in it that I quote, and I think that that has the power to change lives, and I think that's why the book is being used to change a lot of lives. Because I've just quoted the Bible. And honestly, there's nothing in the book that hasn't been said in historic Christian faith for 2,000 years. I just happened to interpret it in a simple way for the 21st century."

Warren didn't yield to the temptation to take credit for what God is doing through his ministry. Instead, with humility he said that God's word not his book is changing lives. He aligned himself with humble preachers throughout history who were faithful to teach the "historic Christian faith" to their people. At another point in the interview he said, "...the message isn't really anything new, Larry. It's been taught for 2,000 years in churches. If somebody wants to hear it, they don't have to read my book, just go to church on Easter and hear it."

—http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/22/lkl.01.html Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Is God resisting you, or are you surrounded by His grace? Do you tend to take credit for the grace of God, or try to quantify it for your glory, or are you quick to give glory to God for what He is doing through others and you?

In his book, "Humility", Andrew Murray writes, "We must learn of Jesus, how He is meek and lowly of heart. He teaches us where true humility takes its rise and finds its strength—the knowledge that it is God who works all in all, that our place is to yield to Him in perfect resignation and dependence, in full consent to be and to do nothing of ourselves. This is the life Christ came to reveal and to impart—a life in God that comes through death to sin and self."

Psalms 22:26 (HCSB) "The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!"

Japanese Princess Sayako the only daughter of Emperor Akihito has left the world's oldest monarchy and set out for a new life as a middle-class housewife by marrying a commoner. Tradition requires Sayako give up her imperial status because she choose to marry a commoner.

During a short press conference, Sayako said she had only a remote idea about life in a rented house in a middle class area of Tokyo. To prepare her for her new way of life, Sayako took classes learning how to drive and to sort the trash. She did receive a one-time government payment of 1.3 million dollars as an allowance for making the transition to commoner. The princess said, "I was very glad that the emperor and empress think that this new life is not a total change but an extension of my life so far."

Her husband hopes for a quieter life in the future. He said, "While respecting each other's views, I would like to make a quiet home where you can feel at ease." 68-year-old Hiroshi Inamura who camped out all night to be the first to write his name in the congratulatory book was excited about the prospects. Inamura said, "Many people feel close to the princess because she is descending to a commoner's rank."

—Agence France Presse, Japanese princess quits monarchy, marries commoner, November 15, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Philippians 2:5-9 (NASB) "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. [8] Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,"

In his book, The Prodigal God, Timothy Keller writes, “When a newspaper posed the question, ‘What’s Wrong with the World?’ the Catholic tinker G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: ‘Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton.’ That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of the Jesus.”

-- The Prodigal God, P. 46 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Psalm 86:1 (HCSB) “Listen, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”

Mary Ann Wangemann and her teenage daughter were not in the best mood as they headed home following an NHL playoff game in their favorite team, the Washington Capitals were eliminated in the seventh and final game of the series. To make matters worse, as they drove, Mary Ann hit a pothole on a bridge and got a flat tire. They pulled off to the side of the bridge and called AAA. The operator told said they had a heavy volume of calls, and it would take time to get help out to them. Mary Ann and her daughter decided it would be safer to wait away from the car. As they watched the traffic pass, an SUV pulled over and the driver asked if he could help. Mary Ann told the man she was waiting for AAA,, but when she recognized the man, she asked if he would wait with them.

The driver of the SUV turned out to be Washington Capitals player Brooks Laich. Laich insisted on helping change the flat even though he was still wearing his post-game suit. Mary Ann said Laich was friendly but somber as took out the spare and jack and went to work. Even though he scored the team’s single goal, Laich apologized for the loss, and said he had hopes for the next season. When he finished, Laich cautioned Mary Ann to drive slowly and listen for any rattling sounds. She agreed, but said she didn’t know how to thank him. Before he drove off Laich gave the women and hug, and said, “I’m sure you’ll do something nice for someone in the future.” Later, Mary Ann reflected on Laich’s humility saying, “Given everything else going on in his life. I just thought it was remarkable. I want people to know it.”

Brooks Laich changes a tire after Game 7, http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/04/brooks_laich_changes_a_tire_af.html; April 29, 2010; Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

1 Peter 5:5 (GW) “Young people, in a similar way, place yourselves under the authority of spiritual leaders. Furthermore, all of you must serve each other with humility, because God opposes the arrogant but favors the humble.”

Could it be true that Mike Tyson has finally realized his shortcomings? After his four-year-old daughter died in a treadmill accident, Tyson was emotionally touched by the people who reached out to help him. He realized “The first stage of my life was just a whole bunch of selfishness. I thought I was a god. Now I’m 44 and I realize my whole life is just a . . . . waste.”

“If you are not humble, life will visit humbleness upon you,” he says. I just want to be of service to people. I need to help. I need to have something, finally, that I can offer to people in this world.”

Tyson realizes this will not be easy. “I’m a really damaged human being and it’s still such a struggle, but I’m going to fight to the end this time. I’m just trying to be a man. I’m trying so hard.”

If Tyson has learned this Biblical truth, he has come a long way towards a better life. Perhaps if he went the next step and turned his life over to the Lord Jesus, he would make it a lot farther.

--The Week, July 23, 2010 p. 10; Sports Illustrated, August 2, 2010, p. 74, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 16:18 (HCSB) “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.”

After several disappointing seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball team decided the best way to begin a new season was honesty. Before the 2010 season began, The Timberwolves took out a full-page ad in the Minneapolis newspaper to talk to their fans. The ad included an open letter to fans that acknowledged negatives, pointed to positive, and outlined the team’s plan to improve in the coming seasons.

The team’s chief marketing officer Ted Johnson said the ad was part of the team’s plan to establish a new relationship with fans and bring transparency to the way it operated. The franchise has struggled for the past six seasons. The ad did not make any promises about the upcoming campaign either, simply stating, “So will we challenge for the NBA championship this year? Not likely.”

--Truth in advertising: Wolves tout rebuilding plan, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/13/truth-in-advertising-wolves-tout-rebuilding-plan/; September 13, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Colossians 3:12 (CEV) “God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.”

While on the European Tour, golfer Tiger Woods apologized after he was fined for spitting on the green during the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic. Woods spit after missing a par putt on his way to finishing the tournament with a 3 over par 75. He began that day one shot behind the leader, but had some problems on the first three holes. In a statement, the tour said they had reviewed the matter and believed there had been a breach of the tour code of conduct... Woods agreed, saying “The Euro Tour is right. It was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn’t thinking and want to say I’m sorry.”

After seeing Woods actions, a television commentator described his actions as “one of the ugliest things you will ever see on a golf course.” After scandal ended his marriage and rocked the golf world, Woods had promised to make my behavior more respectful of the game.” The tour decided to take action because their code of conduct requires members to voluntarily submit themselves “to standards of behavior and ethical conduct beyond those required of ordinary golfers and members of the public.”

--http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/41579246/ns/sports-golf/, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Job 22:29 (NIV) “When men are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast.”

A judge sentenced Lindsay Lohan to work as a janitor at a morgue in Los Angeles. Because of her probation violations, she will be serving 480 hours of community service. Lohan is not the only celebrity to end in this morgue. Michael Jackson's body ended up there after he died. A rich and successful actor who is now a janitor and perhaps the most famous pop star who ever lived both ended up in a morgue in what is arguably the lowest point in each of their lives.

-- http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/lindsay_lohan_to_work_as_janitor_39mfC6JzZvK4ZxklEhn2cJ Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Miguel Martinez

James 4:6-8(NASB) "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

In Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success, Ken Blanchard and Colleen Barrett write, “People With Humility Don’t Think Less Of Themselves; They Just Think Of Themselves Less.”

--Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success, p. 114. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

James 4:6 (CEV) In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say, "God opposes everyone who is proud, but he is kind to everyone who is humble."

In his book Gospel Powered Humility, author William Farley states what he calls “the great paradox: The proud man thinks he is humble, but the humble man thinks he is proud.” The humble man “aggressively pursues a life of humility, but he doesn’t think of himself as humble. The proud man is completely unaware of his pride. Of all men he is most convinced that he is humble.”

These thoughts are very similar to the words of C. S. Lewis who wrote, “If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”

Proverbs 15:33 (ESV) The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

One New York City driver may have been a little too proud. He or she put a bumper sticker on the car saying, “Why am I the only person on the planet who knows how to drive?” The proud driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including a bruised ego, when the car collided with a guardrail on a city highway and flipped over.

Proverbs 16:18 (ESV) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

A man whose actions changed the course of human history remained humble about his accomplishments until the day he died. Astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on the moon in July 1969. His statement as he stepped onto the lunar surface has become one of the best known quotes in the English language. He said, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” Armstrong and his companions on Apollo 11 gave Americans a sense of achievement despite the ongoing Cold War and conflict in Vietnam.

Armstrong never reveled in his accomplishment. At times, he seemed frustrated by the fame it brought him. During an interview some time later, Armstrong remarked, “I guess we all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks but for the ledger of our daily work." He was once asked about how he felt knowing that his footprints would be on the moon’s surface for thousands of years. Armstrong quipped, ”I kind of hope that somebody goes up there one of these days and cleans them up," --Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

First man on moon Neil Armstrong dead at 82, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/25/us-usa-neilarmstrong-idUSBRE87O0B020120825; Accessed August 25, 2012.

Proverbs 18:12 (HCSB) Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

When the founder of Microsoft appeared on Sixty Minutes, he provided an emotional and unexpected look at the last conversation he had with Steve Jobs. Though, they headed two fiercely competitive rival computer companies, the men talked about the things they had learned in life, their families, and things outside the computer world. Gates said, the men had a mutual respect for each other and were very close to the same age. Gates described each of them as being optimistic. Gates said the Apple Corporation took advantage of Microsoft’s missteps. He said although Microsoft built tablets, Apple put the pieces together in a way that succeeded. Gates admitted to wishing that he had Steve Job’s sense of design. He said, “The fact that he, with as little engineering background as he had, it shows that design can lead you in a good direction. Phenomenal products came out of it.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
Emotional Bill Gates recalls last visit with Steve Jobs, by Brett Molina, http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/05/13/bill-gates-steve-jobs/2155161, Accessed May 13, 2013.

Philippians 2:3-4 (CEV) (3) Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. (4) Care about them as much as you care about yourselves

Sometimes very simple things can interfere with our plans. In Brooklyn, two lost kitten stopped the city subway system. Authorities cut power to the B and Q lines for more than an hour after a woman called to report that her kittens were loose in the nation’s largest subway system. The power was turned off along several sections of the lines because authorities feared the animals might get too close to the dangerous third rail. When there was no sign of the animals, power was restored while workers and passengers were asked to be on the lookout and train operators were asked to proceed with caution. If they saw anything moving on the tracks, they were required to stop and report it to the control center. The kittens were finally located seven hours after the first reports came in. Officials say the cats were found on the tracks, and were removed in crates. They said the confusion caused huge delays for passengers, and to help people keep moving they provided shuttle service between two of the busiest stops. Officials did not say how much the delays and extra service cost.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

2 kittens that stopped NYC subway service found, http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/2-kittens-that-stopped-nyc-subway-service-found-1.5984340, Accessed August 30, 2013.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (NASB) but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

The Oxford University Press declared that “selfie” is the new word of the year for 2013. Selfie is when you take a picture of yourself with your smartphone. Usually that self portrait is taken with the idea of sharing on social media.

I am reminded that Paul calls us to regard others as more important than ourselves.--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Philippians 2:3 (NASB) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

When Pope Francis visited South Korea in August of 2014, it caused quite a stir to some journalists. What was the stir? It was not the grand pomp and pageantry accompanying a papal visit. The stir was the fact that Pope Francis rode in a very small and modest Kia to his different destinations. –Jim L. Wilson & Peter Lee

- http://abcnews.go.com/International/pope-francis-squeezes-kia-south-korea-visit/story?id=24974661

Colossians 3:12 (AMP) Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

Kanye West is among those who want to be frozen after death so he can be thawed in the future when regenerative advances will allow him to live again. The Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona will keep his corpse on ice for $233,000 dollars. The interesting thing here is his stated reason. “He is doing it for the sake of mankind.”

Kanye believes “his creative genius is so rare that it is important he stay around on Earth forever.” He also wants to preserve his wife, Kim. “She is the most perfect female specimen God ever created.”

If he were to really believe that last phrase, that we are created by God, he would have no doubt that God could replace him and Kim.—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

James 4:6 (HCSB) But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Humility

After viewing a viral video of a police officer joining Florida teens in a street basketball game, Shaquille O'Neal, former MVP basketball player and reserve police officer, joined some officers and the youth in a rematch game. Before leaving, he gave the kids some advice: "You know how much money I made? $700m. You know how I made that? Respecting my peers, listening to my mama and daddy and focusing on school."

Not everyone who respects other people, listens to their parents and focuses on school will make as much money as O’Neal did. However, his real riches might not be in his trophy room or in his retirement account. His real riches are on the streets of Florida where he showed respect to some young people who idolize him. —Jim L. Wilson

Philippians 2:3 (HCSB) Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Humility

Officials in Brussels, Belgium said there has been a delay in starting repairs to the streets of the city. They said underground tunnels beneath the city are crumbling, and the roadways are in poor shape, and rather than blame bureaucracy, the officials told parliament that problem is mice. During a special hearing, the former head of the city’s infrastructure agency, Christian Debuyssher said original plans to fix the problem were stored in a bridge support for 20 years before being unearthed to move them to a better storage facility. He said when they tried to find the plans, but discovered that mice had eaten them. He said they would have to draw up new plans to deal with the problem, but until then commuters will have to blame traffic woes on the local mice. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Mice to blame for 'eating' plans to fix Brussels' traffic problems, By Marilyn Malara,http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/02/20/Mice-to-blame-for-eating-plans-to-fix-Brussels-traffic-problems/4641456002945/?spt=sec&or=on, February 20, 2016.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (HCSB) Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

In 2015, reporters asked LeBron James about his confidence in his team overcoming a 3-2 deficit in the World Championship. He responded, “I’m confident because I am the greatest player in the world,”

That is a start contrast to Michael Jordan’s attitude, after winning the 1993 NBA championship, Michael Jordan when was asked about being the greatest player in the world Jordan responded with humility and class when he stated, “I am not out here campaigning to be the greatest player in the world. Everybody plays differently, with different abilities, and in different eras.” –Jim L. Wilson and Eric Gibbs

Proverbs 11:2 (HCSB) “When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Humility

Ninety eight percent of Millennials polled were able to identify an image of Pikachu, the yellow Pokémon character. When showed a picture of Vice President Joe Biden, only 61 percent recognized him.

This is a lesson in humility for all of us. If the vice president of the U.S. can be overshadowed by a cartoon character, we would be wise to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Romans 12:3 (HCSB)“For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.”

HUMILITY

Officials in an Austrian town are looking for a person with unique skills to fill a unique position. They are looking for a person to live in a nearby hermitage built into the steep cliffs in the Salzburg region. The position is unpaid, so the person would need a second job. The job announcement also says the hermitage has no heat or running water, so it is habitable between April and November. A local cleric said they are looking for a person who is at peace with themselves, and they would like someone with a Christian outlook who enjoys greeting visiting pilgrims. The 350-year-old building has been vacant since a Benedictine monk moved out last fall.—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Proverbs 22:4 (HCSB)“The result of humility is fear of the Lord, along with wealth, honor, and life.”

Pope Francis sets a spiritual example for millions of people, but on a trip to Peru he suffered what many other people experience every day, a flat tire. While being driven into Lima from the airport, one of the tires of the car that was taking the Pope into the city began losing air. The motorcade came to a halt, and the Pontiff exited the car while a security team looked at the tire. Without missing a beat, he got into a black, unmarked security car behind him and continued the ride to the presidential palace. In the past, Pope Francis has shunned bulletproof limousine and chosen to use simple cars both in Rome and his overseas trips.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

HUMILITY

for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

In The Wall Street Journal Essential Guide to Management, Alan Murray writes, “Leaders must be arrogant enough to believe they are worth following, but humble enough to know that others may have a better sense of the direction they should take.” —Jim L. Wilson

Passengers on a Greyhound bus bound for New York City from Cleveland realized that they were seeing some of the same sights repeatedly. The driver was going in circles. He returned to the Cleveland terminal and started all over. After an extra four and a half hours, it arrived in New York. During the confusing ride, the passengers offered to let him use the GPS apps on their phones since he did not have one of his own. He refused their help. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Ephesians 4:2 (CSB) “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”

Jerry Merryman was a man who changed the world. When he died in February 2019, friends and family remembered him as brilliant and a kind man with a good sense of humor. Merryman and a team of two other men invented the hand-held calculator while working for Texas Instruments. Their work received a Nobel Prize and paved the way for modern computers though the invention of the integrated circuit. Reflecting on his life, Merryman’s wife Phyllis said, “He always said that he didn’t care about being famous, if his friends thought he did a good job, he was happy.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Philippians 2:3 (CSB)“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.”

Due to limited access and altered supply chains during the 2020 COVID-19 quarantine, the small town of Gustavus, Alaska faced the danger of starvation because they could not get critical supplies. Local resident and grocer Toshua Parker stepped in and led a team on a 14-hour round trip each week to make sure there was plenty of food. Parker used his membership at a warehouse club to buy canned goods, eggs, flour, meat, and other essentials to stock his store. Parker also began asking residents for any special order items they might need. Parker said when he arrived back in town after the long trip to Juneau, he notified the town that the store was stocked. He said it was Christmas when he got supplies to town each week. Several residents said they were fortunate to have such a dedicated people to keep them supplied. The town’s mayor said, “Toshua pretty much saved the town. I really don’t know what we would’ve done without him.” Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.