1055) Having become in recent years a published author, I’ve struggled with something that I had not expected and that is publicity. While I write in the Christian literature genre, I have found that I must actively promote my work because writing for me is now a business. Because of this, I have found a struggle within my heart concerning where the line is between actively seeking publicity and humility. In search of an answer, I consulted with a friend who is a world-wide leader in the arts and a Christian. I asked him, How do you handle publicity and still be true to humility? His answer was short, yet helpful. He told me that when it comes to publicity from outside sources; he does his best to ignore it and when it’s his responsibility for self-promotion, he just states facts and leaves it at that.

Does my friend’s advice agree with the admonition of being humble in Ephesians 4:2-3? The word for humility in the Greek is tapeinophrosune, meaning to keep from self-inflating. Stating your strengths and accomplishments can be done without making yourself superior to others.

When I seek to make myself look better than others, then I am not mature in humility.