The Basis of Credit and Confidence…

Sometimes when feelings of self-sufficiency seem to assert themselves, when people feel sure that they no longer have need of others, we need to remind ourselves that no man can be sure he will not have need of others, ever, nor be sure that he will not need someone soon, no matter how successful or how assured life looks.

In pursuing this theme we must come to an inevitable conclusion, indeed to one of the foremost lessons of life: that the quality of humility is one of the great qualities of character, and there is no real greatness in anyone without it.

And now to follow back the thread by which we come to this conclusion: Sometimes when men lose the quality of humility, when they become cocksure, they may feel that they are above the rules and principles that apply to others. And in this misconception they may cast off friends, cast off obligations, cast off principles and conventions, and use all circumstances to suit themselves, even as an opportunist. But the opportunist is always in a precarious position⎯and may indeed cast off many things, the need of which he knows not until perhaps he knows the need a little too late⎯for the time to make friends is all along the way of life; the time to build credit is before we are urgently in need of credit; the time to become acquainted with the Lord God is before the pressure of necessity is upon us.

We ought to establish the basis of confidence, of credit, of trust, with our friends, our family, with all men, and with the Lord God before we find ourselves in too deep a deficit⎯before we find ourselves at an inconvenient time, and under urgent necessity seeking for the credit, the favors, the friendship, the blessings, and understanding that we shall surely sometime need.