"WISDOM IS WITH THE MODEST ONES"

A PROMINENT apostle refuses to draw attention to himself. A courageous Israelite judge calls himself the smallest in his father's house. The greatest man who ever lived acknowledges that he does not have unlimited authority. Each of these men displays modesty.

Modesty is the opposite of presumptuousness. The person who is modest has a sober estimate of his abilities and worth and is free of conceit or vanity.  Rather than being proud, boastful, or ambitious, the  modest person is ever aware of his limitations. Hence, he respects and gives due consideration to the feeling and views of others. 

For good reason the Bible states:  "Wisdom is with the modest ones." (Proverbs 11:2)  The modest person is wise because he follows a course that God has approves, and he avoids a presumptuous spirit that results in dishonor.  (Proverbs 8:13; 1 Peter 5:5) The wisdom of modesty is confirmed by the life course of a number of God's servants. Let us consider the three examples cited in the opening paragraph.  

Next time: Paul-A 'Subordinate' and a 'Steward' 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000