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Ya'll know Benjamin Franklin... one of our founding fathers... real super smart guy. Well, unlike most of the founding fathers, Franklin wasn't a Christian--He was a deist, which sets the stage for some real strange thinking on his part.
He decided one day to try an experiment--an experiment to perfect himself. He picked thirteen qualities that he would try to perfect in his life: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. Well, as you probably guessed, he ran into problems. We aren't perfect beings and we certainly cannot perfect ourselves by mere will-power as Franklin tried to do.
Franklin especially stumbled in the area of humility--interestingly enough, Franklin had not originally listed humility as one of the virtues--it was added only after a Quaker friend informed Franklin that he needed work in that area (humility) as well. After the experiment was regarded as a "flop," Franklin wrote specifically concerning the virtue humility: "I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it."
Where am I going with this? Well, I think it ties in marvelously with what we just talked about in Daniel... the humbling of King Neb and the one question on Week Three, Day One (pg. 49): "Share another example of how something true can be enhanced until it's a lie." Obviously, Franklin experienced first-hand how humility could be enhanced so it only showed outwardly but did not take root inwardly (in his heart and soul).
I wonder if King Neb might have done the same thing... Remember that it was one year after Daniel had warned King Neb to "renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed." I wonder during those twelve months if King Neb put on a facade of humility, but really pride and selfishness still simmered in his heart. King Neb could not humble himself just as Ben Franklin could not humble himself--it took an act of God to send Neb spiraling to his knees.
I pray that throughout this next week of study that we'll all learn the lesson from the page and take it to heart. <3
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