A Review of Humility as described in The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis

 

As of late, I have greatly enjoyed reading The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis. I believe that there is much to spiritually learn from this work. As I continued reading the section on Affection in this book, I greatly admired the following passage: 

''In Jane Austen's novel, Emma intends that Harriet Smith should have a happy life; but only the sort of happy life which Emma herself has planned for her. My own profession-that of a university teacher-is in this way dangerous. If we are any good we must always be working towards the moment at which our pupils are fit to become our critics snd rivals. We should be delighted when it arrives, as the fencing master is delighted when his pupil can pink and disarm him. And many are (Lewis, p. 51, 1960).''

I felt gladdened by this passage as I see such humility from Lewis here. He doesn't desire to be the greatest- in fact, he wishes for his students to surpass him. Nor does he believe that he holds the pedestal that all else must live up to. This is amazing. Lewis demonstrates Christ to his readers by his lack of concern over being the best among men. 

As I read this passage, I prayed to God for such humility. I truly believe that we humans are most happy when we are most humble. Take away our pride and we are not defensive over ourselves. From our pride flows our defensive nature to protect ourselves from others seeing us less than how we wish to be seen, and by being defensive, our efforts become all about defending ourselves rather than loving others. Indeed, no man on earth can think of others if his pride consumes his thoughts. Pride actually bounds us from freedom. Only through Christ can our efforts be reversed from our sinful tendencies which somehow tell us that we are the standard of what everyone else should be.