Humility and Serving Others

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy....." ( 2Timothy: 1 and 2).
Those who choose to follow the teachings of Jesus recognize the necessity of having humility.Our Lord stressed this repeatedly in what He said and how He lived. In Matthew,Chapter 20 we read: "And whosoever will be great among you,let ...him be your servant." Then we see in Luke, Chapter 14, where Jesus says: "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
These may seem like strange words for this "Me" generation.I say this because, haven't we seen in countless articles,books and on television programs that we have to take care of ourselves first? Sometimes it's put in a gentler way like, before you can love others you first have to love yourself.
Even schools,beginning at the youngest of ages,stress building self-esteem to what can only be described as an excessive and unhealthy degree. What is thought to be well intended, too often raises children who become self-centered teenagers and adults. It should then come as no surprise that we are the most self-absorbed and self-concerned generation this country has seen.
You can observe this in the way we live,the way we use our money and by our insatiable desire to be entertained.The fact that over fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce is a dubious testament to the "me first" philosophy.
The sad fact is that man, by nature, is prone to greed and self-interest. This truth is told in Scripture many times.People who lack humility tend to be governed by their self-interest and possess a restlessness which is always seeking after this or that in an effort to fill a avoid that exists.
Those attempting to follow Jesus' example of humility,not only consider others first, but reach out to be a help to those in need.This is because the fruit of our committment to our faith in Him is good works.I would quickly add that these good works are something that we freely desire to do.If we look upon them as an obligation,then there is something wrong with our perception of what works from faith is.
Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would want others to do unto us,AND,that it is in the giving that we receive.
What we gain here on earth is that peace which passes all understanding,a peace that the world and all it's riches cannot equal.
May we humble ourselves and follow His example.