Humility, Not Pride: Keeping Ice Off Your Bow


Tony was a professinoal salt-water fisherman. He explained how he cruised out to sea each morning, coming back each evening with his catch.

"Is there a part of the year you can 't go out?" I asked. "The winter--too risky. Below freezing, the spray starts forming ice on the bow. The added weight makes the bow of the boat lie lower in the water. Inexperienced guys fishing in winter have allowed so much ice to build up on the bow that in heavy seas the bow starts to dip beneath the waves. One dip too deep, and she goes down. Only thing to do for it is to grab and ax and knock the ice off once in a while. If you forget and let it build up, you're dead."

Think of that bow-ice as representing sinful pride. Little by little it builds up until you can't stay spiritually afloat a moment longer.

Look at the Pharisees. They didn't intend to be so arrogant. Jesus called them blind because they were unaware they had this problem. But little by little their self-congratulatory attitude expanded their egos until their spirituality was shipwrecked.

We modern believers face a similar challenge. What can we do to knock off the pride weighting us down? Here are a few principles from Scripture.

  • I must regard others as better than myself (Phil. 2:3). As far as I can tell, I am forgiven a debt of millions of sins, compared my brother or sister forgiven only a few dozen (Matt. 18:23-35).
  • I must be willing to associate with the humble (Rom. 12:16). Or it could be translated, "Be willing to perform humble tasks." I learn humility by imitating it and by practicing it.
  • I must continually recognize my debt to the Savior: without Him I would be hopelessly lost (Rom. 5:6-8).

    Little by little, day by day, let's keep the "ice" off our bows. Disaster awaits anyone who ignores this warning.

    Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

    Go to his DeeperStudy.org for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."

    MORE RESOURCES:
    RELATED ARTICLES
    The Success of Servanthood
    "Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant." Philippians 2: 6-7, NIVSince the Ashley Smith and Brian Nichols incident (amazing how God works!), I've been thinking about what servanthood really means.
    Why Dont I Get What I Want?
    The smart 'spiritual' answer is 'you always get what you want'. But that isn't very helpful, because if you can't pay the power bill and you want to be warm, there's clearly a conflict, and you can justifiably say 'I'm not getting what I want.
    The Trust We Must Have to Manifest What We Truly Desire
    Some of my greatest teachers have taught me that faith and trust are two of our most powerful allies. True belief in your ability to create results in your life is based upon this trust.
    Response - Ability Divine Source
    The time has come for the mass population on Earth to respond with each of your Divine ability to connect to your Higher Self, God, Holy Spirit, or whatever name you may give to your Highest and purest Spiritual connection to All That Is in the universe.This is the "I AM" Presence within you.
    God!
    God !"My son will be brought up in a place where he will not even hear about the word "God" !This man was totally against the concept of God. He was very staunch in his belief that there is no God and all people who believe that God exists are fools.
    Serenity
    Listen to the sound of silence. Enjoy the peace and quiet.
    The Traitor Within
    Life is like an obstacle course in which we run like an Olympian athlete and at times getting nowhere. We exert a lot of energy trying to avoid life's ditches, jump over the potholes, leap across stumbling blocks, miss the dangers, and somehow sidestep the troubles.
    Spiritual Spring Cleaning, Making Room for More
    Do you ever get into those moods where you just can't stand to look at clutter anymore and start filling garbage bags? Maybe it's Spring Fever, but I have a deep desire for simplicity lately. Not just in my physical surroundings, but emotionally, professionally, and spiritually too -- I have been "purging" the unnecessary from my life.
    Acknowledging Emotions and Feelings
    We'll begin with a question:What is a moral?I'd say it's something you have an intense feeling or emotion about, generally so intense you would never cross its boundary.Agree?Have you ever crossed a moral boundary? It doesn't feel good does it.
    Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 3
    The Birth of Jesus Christ18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before the came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
    Humanity Needs Islam
    The human nature means the soul and the body. A man without a spiritual life is no longer a man.
    Creating With Words
    "In the sixth century of the sixth millennium, the gates of supernal [heavenly] wisdom will be opened, as will the wellsprings of earthly wisdom, preparing the world to be elevated in the seventh millennium." The Zohar (a source text of Kabbalah)TRY SAYING THESE WORDS TO YOURSELF:Depressed, sad, afraid, guilty, alone, weak, fragmented, disconnected, weary, helpless, victimized, threatened, tired, drained, resentful, unappreciated, misunderstood, burdened, angry, hate, hard, not good enough, dreary, stupid, ugly, lonely, impossible, overwhelmed, isolated, too much for me, failure, I can't, danger, panic, it's too hard?How do you feel? And, what happens to your goals when you feel this way? To your energy? To your willingness to take risks? To your belief in yourself and your dreams?It's not such a pretty picture.
    An Open Invitation
    "All you who are thirsty, come and drink." ISAIAH 55:1, NCVThe most incredible invitations are not found in envelopes; they are found in the Bible.
    Jesus Birthday: Sacred Children Series - 2 of 3
    I had visions of my daughter for about five years before she finally showed up. She turned out exactly like the little girl in my dreams who had haunted me all that time.
    Why Is Your Prayer Of Faith Lacking Results?
    About a month ago I opened up my bible in boredom trying to see if the lord had a word for me. Well, it just so happened that I landed in first kings the page with chapter three right there just staring me in the face.
    You Are Not Your Stuff
    We humans are a funny, funny breed. We spend our entire lives working and working and working to acquire 'stuff'.
    A Ministry Of One
    Each of us has far more potential to serve the Highest Cause, and each other, than we ever tap into. Many of us seeking to commit our lives to such service have, even if only briefly, considered leading or joining an established ministry - at least until the responsibilities associated with our real-world concerns reasserted themselves in our thoughts.
    The Power of Angels - An Interview With Rose Ann Schwab - Part 1
    Rose Ann Schwab is an internationally and world renowned professional clairvoyant psychic medium. Her gifts are finely tuned and have high credibility with 95% accuracy.
    It Seems We Have All Taken a POW
    Just for a moment think of what is stopping you from living your dream. Is it fear? Is it change? Most people in today's world have thought that at some point in their spirits evolution that money is the root of all evil.
    Practical Stress Management -- 7 Spiritual Solutions
    Stress is amazingly persistent, even seductive. We get used to feeling tight and tense.