Compelled to Be Humble

A very important truth is taught in the following Scripture. Just a quick background, this is the prophet Alma speaking to people who were compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

Alma 32:13-16

13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

16 Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

The truth taught in this Scripture is universal.  It doesn't just apply to humility.  There are many types of people in the world and in the Church.  Our attitude has a lot to do with our level of spirituality.

For example, do we pay tithing willingly with a glad heart or grudgingly?  Are we compelled to pay tithing?  Do we live the Word of Wisdom willingly with a glad heart or grudgingly?  Are we compelled to live the Word of Wisdom?  Do we keep the Sabbath day holy willingly with a glad heart or grudgingly? Are we compelled to keep the Sabbath day holy?  Do we fast willingly with a glad heart or grudgingly with a sad countenance?  Are we compelled to fast?  Do we willingly serve our fellow man with a glad heart when we see a need or do we only serve grudgingly when someone asks us?  Are we compelled to serve?

Those are only a few examples of Commandments that we may keep.  But what is our attitude?  Do we willingly keep the commandments with a glad heart?  Or do we grudgingly keep the commandments because we feel compelled to?

Do we serve in our callings grudgingly out of a sense of duty?  Or do we serve willingly with a glad heart because we want to serve the Lord and help our fellow man?

Obviously if we are serving at all it is better than not serving.  Obviously if we are keeping the commandments at all, it is better than not keeping them.  Regardless of our motivation or attitude.  But, as the prophet Alma stated in the above scripture "Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble".

Anyone who serves the Lord and his fellow man will be blessed.  Anyone who keeps the commandments will be blessed.  But those who do so without being compelled to, those who serve willingly with a glad heart out of pure love for the Lord and their fellow man, will be "much more blessed".

That's my two cents.