Modesty-A QUALITY THAT PROMOTES PEACE

How pleasant the world would be if everyone displayed modesty.  Individuals would be less demanding, family members less quarrelsome,corporations less competitive and nations less belligerent.  Would you like to live in such a world?


TRUE servants of Jehovah God are preparing for his promised new world, in which modesty will be universally regarded, not as a weakness, but as a strength and a virtue.  (2 Peter 3:13)  In fact, they are developing the quality of   modesty even now. Why?  Especially because this is what Jehovah  requires of them.  His prophet Micah wrote:  "He has told you , O earthling man, what is good.  And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God?" -Micah 6:8.

Modesty can mean a number of things, such as a lack of conceit, or vanity, and a reluctance to boast about one's abilities, achievements  and possessions.  According to one reference work, modesty also mean  "keeping within bounds."  A modest person stays within the bounds of good behavior.  He also acknowledges that there are limits to what he ought to do and is able to do.  He knows that there are things to which he is not entitled. We surely feel drawn to modest people.  "Nothing is more amiable than true modesty," wrote English poet Joseph Addison.

Modesty is not natural trait of imperfect humans.  We must put forth effort to develop this quality.  For our encouragement, God's Word describes a number of incidents  that illustrate modesty in its various forms.

Next time: Two Modest Kings

Watchtower, 2000