James 4:10 “Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].”
This week,Michael writes that humility is not to think of myself above God or others. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “humility as: an act of submission. In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the Divine will.
Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.
It is having a spirit of submission and deference and to honor others above myself. Humility is to think of myself as a servant of the Lord others, to know and understand Jesus’ message that “in that you have done it unto the least of these, your brethren, you have done it unto me.” This is the attitude of Jesus Christ himself, who made himself of no reputation and was made in the likeness of men. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the cross.
Paul, like Jesus, saw himself not as a leader of men, but as a slave, and a servant of those whom God had called him to minister. As a bond-slave of Jesus Christ our greatest blessing is serving our master from the bond of love. Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-28, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” A slave does nothing except that which his master commands. His heart’s desire is to do his master’s will… Not my will but thine be done… thy wish is my command.
After Jesus had been in the desert fasting for forty days, he was tempted by the devil. The adversary confronts men and women of God at their weakest point. Humility to God is the key to resisting the devil. According to Edward McKendree [E.M.] Bounds, humility retreats from public gaze and never exalts itself in the eyes of others… there is no self-praise in humility, but humility prefers to praise others… humility is characterized by a modest heart, a heart that lives to serve others and in so doing, to serve his master… Blessed are they who humble themselves. According to Matthew 5:3, the Lord Jesus says, Blessed are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Why is God opposed to pride and those who are boastful in themselves? A proud heart is the motivation that caused Satan himself to fall, having been lifted up with pride. This was how the adversary deceived Eve in the garden of Eden… His lie to her appealed to her pride: “You shall be as God, knowing good from evil.” In God’s presence, Isaiah saw his own shortcomings and was humbled when confronted with the holiness of God. He said I am a man of unclean lips… Isaiah 6:3.
Let's continue Michael's message on humility in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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