Customer Reviews

Humility: A Forgotten Virtue (Strength for Life)

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As I read Humility by Wayne Mack I could not help but draw comparisons with C.J. Mahaney's excellent book by the same title. I am glad to say that both books are deeply challenging and saturated in Scripture. Both men are skilled expositors of Scripture and both have a heart for the church. While I will go so far as to recommend both of these books I do not wish to make further comparison between them as each stands on its own merits.

"This book was written," says Mack, "in an attempt to understand pride and humility from a biblical perspective and to help us diminsh the destructive pride factor and to increase the true humility factor in our lives." To do this the author uses a "four-D" approach. He begins with biblical definitions of pride and humility and then discusses how pride and humility display themselves. Finally, he explains how true humility can be developed and destructive pride can be diminished in the life of the believer.

The importance of this topic can hardly be overstated. The Scriptures make it clear to us that humility is an exceedingly important aspect of the Christian's character. The Bible continually exhorts God's people to be humble and to rid ourselves of all pride. We are often told that God pours out his blessing on those who display a humble heart. Pride strikes right to the heart of God as it is a proclamation on the part of a person that he considers his concerns to be more important than submission to his Creator. "Pride consists in attributing to ourselves the honor, privileges, prerogatives, rights and power that are due to God alone. Thus, it is the very root and essence of sin because pride, at its core, is idolatry of self. A proud person has put himself or herself in God's place."

Humility stands exactly opposed to pride. "Humility consists in an attitude wherein we recognize our own insignificance and unworthiness before God and attribute to Him the supreme honor, praise, prerogatives, rights, privileges, worship, devotion, authority, submission, and obedience that He alone deserves... It means having a servant's mind-set and always putting self last."

At the conclusion of each chapter is a set of questions of application and sometimes a self-evaluation. While I generally eschew this type of evaluation and have often found them to be somewhat less than useful, I found the questions in Humility to be challenging and relevant to the topic. They were a welcome addition and added significant value to the book.

While I enjoyed the book tremendously there were two areas that I considered negative. First, the author's definition of pride did not seem to allow for any level of pride whatsoever. Is there anything inherently evil with feeling proud of, for example, one's child? I would not think so, provided that one acknowledge his own and his child's dependence on God. Yet I am not sure that this would fit within Mack's definition of pride. He says also of humility that "As soon as we think we are humble, we're not; as soon as we think we have it, we've lost it." I am not entirely sure that this is the case. If a man may acknowledge other gifts given to him by God, could he not also acknowledge his own humility? Secondly, while I appreciate the usefulness and even necessity of reading the contributions of great Christians of days past, I felt that Mack may have relied a little too much on their writing. For example, the book concludes with fully five pages of an excerpt of one of Charles Spurgeon's sermons.

These are but small complaints. I enjoyed Humility and, far more importantly, was continually challenged and edified in reading it. Just days after reading the book I can already attest to some changes I have made and will continue to make in my life because of what I learned through its pages. Because of the importance of the topic this is a book that will benefit all who read its pages. I recommend that you do so!

'The path to true humility begins with the new birth. The Bible makes it clear that no unsaved person can be truly humble. The beginning of true humility then, is the awareness of our total depravity that comes with the initial work of the Holy Spirit in salvation.' p 123

The book focuses on the lost art of humility, one that can never be overstated too much, or repeated enough. To use an example, to continually speak of the fruit of virtue, but decline to ever apologize, seek repentance or ask forgiveness when one transgresses against his brothers, are indications of sure-footed pride.

The battle against pride is one we all should take up - repentance is surely the most sure way of dealing with this?

'Our pride wars against the admission that there is no good in us. Our sinful condition forever struggles with our total dependence on grace.' B Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching p 105

A good book to refresh the Christian.

I, too, found this book challenging and bought several copies. Everyone I know that has read Mack's book loved it. This book reveals pride and humility in ways you may never have imagined. Be prepared for an honest self examination.

Could not stay awake to finish the book. I know I am not humble but I fell asleep three times before I was 1/3 of the way through.

The next day I read The Prideful Soul's Guide to Humility by Michael Fontenot and Tom Jones. Finished it in two short evenings. A very good stimulating and humbling book. Each author writes a chapter on several specific parts of humility.

"Some people don't like this. But what they like or don't like does not change reality." And each chapter has a question, like; How does your view of God keep you humble?

"If we are in awe of God we will not fear people."

"Humility is NOT passiveness....it is heroic"



At our journey's end the proud will still be dithering around deluded, but the humble will have forged a special freedom for they have forgotten about themselves entirely."

Very practical. I enjoyed it and I feel a little less in control.

Wayne Mack is a very nice man but Humility: the forgotten virtue put me to sleep. Forget about it. The much better book is The Prideful Soul's guide to Humility, by Fontenot and Thomas Jones.

I thought this book was very good. The author breaks down humility and pride into their different aspects and looks at each. There are numerous scripture passages referenced, and recommendations from the author as to biographies to read of Christians who struggled with or displayed humility. There are also numerous methods of application addressed to work on increasing humility in your heart. I worked through this book slowly with my Bible, reading every scripture passage as cited, and found it it be a very helpful resource that will stay in my library.

A good practical reference book to learn God's truth about winning in life.