The Bible tells us that God wants us to grow in humility. Mother Theresa of Calcutta, who is now a Saint, saw the process of learning to become more humble as a set of specific, concrete measures we can practice every day.
Her advice is easy to understand, but much harder to follow. Over time, though, by embracing her approach and making it our own, we can gradually learn to respond to people and events with greater acceptance and humility.
I first posted these teachings as a series of daily quotations on Twitter and Facebook. When that project was complete, I decided to draw them together, and make them available here.
Each quotation is followed by an illustrative verse from the Bible or few words of clarification. I hope very much that you will find Mother Theresa’s clear, practical advice as helpful as I do.
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1. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters:
You must all be quick to listen
[and] slow to speak
(James 1:19; NLT).
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2. Aspire to live quietly,
to mind your own affairs,
and to work with your own hands
(1 Thessalonians 4:10; RSV).
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3. You should mind your own business
(1 Thessalonians 4:11; NIV).
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4. They have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things
(2 Timothy 4:3; NET).
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5. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults
because of your love
(Ephesians 4:2; NLT).
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6. Whoever learns from correction is wise (Proverbs 15:5; NLT).
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7. How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’
when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck
from your brother’s eye
(Matthew 7:4-5; NIV).
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8. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT).
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9. He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word
(Isaiah 53:7; NLT).
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1o. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
yet he never said a word
(Isaiah 53:7; NLT).
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11. The wisdom from above is first of all pure.
It is also peace-loving,
gentle at all times,
and willing to yield to others
(James 3:17; NLT).
NB: This doesn’t mean letting people walk all over you. It means letting others choose, and gladly going along with their choice, rather than insisting on having your own way.
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12. He was despised and we did not care
(Isaiah 53:3; NLT).
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13. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way
(Isaiah 53:3; NLT).
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14. A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare (Proverbs 15:1; NLT).
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15. They brag loudly about themselves (Jude 1:16; NLT).
Don’t do your good deeds publicly,
to be admired by others
(Matthew 6:1; NLT).
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16. Whoever wants to be first among you
must be the slave of all
(Mark 10:44; NET).
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17. Do not be wise in your own opinion
(Romans 12:16; NKJV).
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18. Even the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve others,
and to give his life as a ransom for many
(Matthew 20:28; NLT).
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Reference
All the quotations used here can be found by doing a Google search for: “Mother Theresa humility list”. I am very grateful to Mother for putting her advice list together, and to all those who circulate various versions of it online.
1. Life brings trials and suffering,
But hardest of them all
Is living without faith in God
When we reject his call.
2. Life brings riches, fame, success;
We think these things are good,
But we don’t see how poor we are
When we reject his love.
3. Life brings failure, loss, regret,
Which we will have to bear,
And we must face them all alone
When we reject his care.
4. Life brings battles, thrills, and spills —
We think we’re doing well,
But when we spurn the Lord, our God,
We truly live in hell.
🤎
References
1. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honour him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant any more” (Ecclesiastes 12:1; NLT).
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1; NIV).
2. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:17; NIV).
3. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).
Remember him – before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7; NIV).
They do not fear God (Psalm 55:19; NLT).
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord (Psalm 14:2-4; NIV).
4. The people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires (Jeremiah 18:12; NLT).
You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12; NLT).
She says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell (Proverbs 9:16-18; NKJV).
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God (Jeremiah 2:19; NLT).
There is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there (Luke 16:27; NLT).
Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28; NLT).
We walk by faith, not by sight
(2 Corinthians 5:7; NKJV).
1. When we cannot walk by faith,
The Lord is with us:
We are safe.
2. When we cannot see his light,
Jesus guides us
Through the night.
3. When we cannot praise, or pray,
His Spirit pleads for us
Each day;
4. And even when we lose all trust, He’s still holding fast
To us!
Your strong right hand holds me securely
(Psalm 63:8; NLT).
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References
1. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me (Psalm 16:8; NLT).
You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe (Psalm 4:8; NLT).
2. If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).
I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).
3. The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; RSV).
4. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).
Your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).
I desire to do your will, my God (Psalm 40:8; NLT).
1. Father,
Please remove from me
All foolish pride and vanity;
All judging of my fellows, Lord:
Your will, my mind – In full accord.
2. Father,
Please remove from me
All selfishness and jealousy;
All quarrelling, and hatred, Lord:
Your will, my heart – In true accord.
3. Father,
Please remove from me
All arrogance and gluttony;
All callousness, and slander, Lord:
Your will, my soul – In one accord.
❤️
References
1. I will not endure conceit and pride (Psalm 101:5; NLT).
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).
2. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins like these (Galatians 5:19-21; NLT).
He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).
I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever (Jeremiah 32:39; NLT).
3. From within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you (Mark 7:21-22; NLT).
I hate pride and arrogance (Proverbs 8:13; NLT).
I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbours (Psalm 101:5; NLT).
He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NKJV).
1. Touch my body,
Bind each wound,
For I am faint,
My strength, consumed.
2. Touch my mind,
Correct each thought,
Until I realise
I am naught.
3. Touch my heart,
Yoke me to good,
And fill me with
Your perfect love.
4. Touch my soul,
Make me like Christ
Your Son –
A living sacrifice.
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References
1. He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds (Hosea 6:1; NIV).
My life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed (Psalm 31:10; KJV).
2. The Lord corrects those he loves (Proverbs 3:12; NLT).
I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).
3. Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19; NIV).
We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).
4. The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
So, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1; NLT).
