Shalom and Peace:
Today I again invite you to learn a bit more about getting along with others, Derek Eretz.
'' Do not run after honor. Do not be proud when having a great accomplishment.''
''Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.'' {Prov. 18:12}. Learning true humility is difficult. Some think one must be humiliated to be humble. In fact, when we are humble, no one can humiliate us.
When we understand humility, we understand that we do not need honors. Honors, if bestowed upon us by our fellows, are just icing on the cake of our lives. If we are living a life that is good, just and honest in God's eyes, what need of we of human honors? To lead a life of running after honor is ludicrous. Yet , so many of us do it.
When I work with folks who have became transformed via Jewish Spiritual Renewal, they learn that their honor seeking, [e.g., chairmanships or officer positions on boards or religious organizations], stemmed from low self-esteem that needed to be covered over with plaques, framed certificates, and names in monthly newsletters. If we truly seek to have honest honor, the Talmud tells us to honor others. {Pirkei Avot 4:1 }. When and if we are honored, we give all credit to God, parents, teachers, and friends who helped us achieve the honor.
Further when we chase honor, we step on the toes of other's with low self-esteem who are also chasing honor. We end up in peccadilloes. Time is best spent running after our egos, our character defects, and working to rid ourselves of them. The biggest honor we can ever have is to transform. (Ibid 2:4).
When we chase honor and get the honor, it is eventually taken away, because all glory is fleeting, ["sic transit gloria mundi"]. We become angry and depressed. When we have low self- esteem, we need the constant kudos. We have to remember not to believe our own press.
Obadiah the Prophet taught: '' The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?''' [Obad. 1:3].
In Judaism we are taught to work hard and well, to do our best, and not be attached to outcomes. Outcomes are beyond our control. If we try to manipulate outcomes, we only frustrate ourselves.
When we achieve a worthy accomplishment, don't wear it as a crown. We have to truly know that we are to give ALL credit to God and others. We don't just say these words at some acceptance speech, we have to truly believe and live these words.
While the hard work is ours, every talent that we have, has been a gift to us. In reality, from a spiritual point of view, they are loans to us, and gratitude, not arrogance needs to be shown.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Follow him on FaceBook at 'Arthur L Segal', on Twitter at RabbiASegal, or his blog at http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com . Email at RabbiSegal@JewishSpiritualRenewal.net
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