Humility

Read Time:  11 Minutes

Humility is best described by comparing it to it's opposite. Humility is to be not proud or arrogant.

Man's inclination is to inflate ones own stature or ego. "Look at me; look how great I am." We want to be looked up as great, worthy, and be honored. As with all aspects of our lives, if we rely upon our 5 senses and always try to do it ourselves, the outcome is less than the best.

Proverbs 15
:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul:
    but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom;
    and before honour is humility .
16
:1 The preparations of the heart in man,
    and the answer of the tongue,
    is from the LORD.
:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
    but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD,
    and thy thoughts shall be established.

In our own eyes we seem right but God knows our hearts. When we commit our works unto the Lord then our thoughts shall be established. What we then know and realize is that God is the one who will exalt us.

Proverbs 18
:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
    and before honour is humility .

If we let pride and our inflated sense of self-righteousness guide our lives it will lead to destruction. Before there is honor, the true honor from God, is humility.

Proverbs 22
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Be humble and respect God and the result is riches, honor, and life.

Paul is a great example to the Church of God of a servant and minister to God's Household.

Acts 20
:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus,
    and called the elders of the church.
:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them,
        Ye know,
            from the first day that I came into Asia,
        after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
:19   Serving the Lord with all humility of mind ,
        and with many tears,
        and temptations,
            which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
:20   And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
        but have shewed you,
        and have taught you publickly,
        and from house to house,
:21   Testifying both to the Jews,
            and also to the Greeks,
        repentance toward God,
        and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul could have boasted; he was a great and successful man prior to his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his lord. Then God gave Paul an abundance of revelation to the church but he remained humble toward God and not arrogant because God chose to give him revelation and be a minister unto the Gentiles.

God also cautions us to be wary of false humility, the worshipping of angels and self-abasement to the laws of men.

Colossians 2
:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat,
    or in drink,
    or in respect of an holyday,
    or of the new moon,
    or of the sabbath days:
:17   Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels,
        intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
        vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
:19   And not holding the Head,
            from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered,
               and knit together,
            increaseth with the increase of God.
:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world,
        why,
            as though living in the world,
        are ye subject to ordinances,
:21       (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
:22           Which all are to perish with the using;)
        after the commandments and doctrines of men?
:23   Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship,
            and humility ,
            and neglecting of the body;
        not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Going through the motions of humility for one's own gain is also something to guard against in our lives. It is not the acts that matter but the heart behind it.

In contrast to empty/false humility:

Colossians 3
:1 If ye then be risen with Christ,
    seek those things which are above,
        where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
:2 Set your affection on things above,
        not on things on the earth.
:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
:4 When Christ,
        who is our life,
    shall appear,
    then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
        fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
            which is idolatry:
:6     For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
:7     In the which ye also walked some time,
            when ye lived in them.
:8 But now ye also put off all these;
        anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
:9     Lie not one to another,
            seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
:10       And have put on the new man,
                which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
:11           Where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
                    circumcision nor uncircumcision,
                    Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free:
                but Christ is all, and in all.
:12 Put on therefore,
          as the elect of God,
          holy and beloved,
    bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind , meekness, longsuffering;
:13 Forbearing one another,
    and forgiving one another,
    if any man have a quarrel against any:
        even as Christ forgave you,
    so also do ye.
:14 And above all these things put on charity, [the love of God]
        which is the bond of perfectness.
:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
        to the which also ye are called in one body;
    and be ye thankful.
:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
    teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
    singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
    do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
    giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

When we bring our thoughts back to God and His Word the result is the peace of God ruling in our hearts. It is God's desire that we put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another. We even must forgive one another. And above all things put on the love of God. This is a decision on our parts. We must to decide to love people with God's love. We are subject to the world and it's influences and we don't always do what we should. Paul even made that note in Romans 7.

Romans 7
:14  For we know that the law is spiritual:
    but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not:
    for what I would, that do I not;
    but what I hate, that do I.
:16 If then I do that which I would not,
    I consent unto the law that it is good.
:17 Now then it is no more I that do it,
    but sin that dwelleth in me.
:18 For I know that in me
        (that is, in my flesh,)
    dwelleth no good thing:
    for to will is present with me;
    but how to perform that which is good I find not.
:19 For the good that I would I do not:
    but the evil which I would not, that I do.
:20 Now if I do that I would not,
    it is no more I that do it,
    but sin that dwelleth in me.
:21 I find then a law, that,
    when I would do good, evil is present with me.
:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
:23 But I see another law in my members,
    warring against the law of my mind,
    and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
:24 O wretched man that I am!
    who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
    but with the flesh the law of sin.

Even Paul had trouble controlling the desires of the flesh, lusts, and thoughts. But, instead beating himself up about it he turned his thoughts to God. When you are looking to God, taking the step toward Him He will bring you along and help you.

When you do all in the name of the Lord Jesus you are not living for your own self.

I Peter 5
:1 The elders which are among you I exhort,
        who am also an elder,
        and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,
        and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
    not by constraint,
        but willingly;
    not for filthy lucre,
        but of a ready mind;
:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
        but being ensamples to the flock.
:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear,
    ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
:5 Likewise, ye younger,
        submit yourselves unto the elder.
    Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
    and be clothed with humility :
        for God resisteth the proud,
        and giveth grace to the humble .
:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
        that he may exalt you in due time:
:7 Casting all your care upon him;
        for he careth for you.
:8 Be sober, be vigilant;
        because your adversary the devil,
            as a roaring lion,
        walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, [therefore, stand against him, being steadfast in faith]
    knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
:10 But the God of all grace,
        who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
        after that ye have suffered a while,
    make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

It is imperative that we live in His presence, cloth ourselves with humility toward God for he will exalt us in due time. We must cast all our care upon. Then what is the next verse? There is a direct correlation between harboring and feeding your cares, your frustrations, sorrow, envy, strife, and our adversary, the devil, seeking whom he may devour. We must let go and let God perform His mighty work and healing in our lives.

Ephesians 4:
:1 I therefore,
        the prisoner of the Lord,
    beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
:2     With all lowliness [humility]
            and meekness,
            with longsuffering,
    forbearing one another in love;
:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
:4 There is one body, and one Spirit,
    even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
:5 One Lord,
    one faith,
    one baptism,
:6 One God and Father of all,
        who is above all,
        and through all,
        and in you all.

Take God at His Word. It is not by our own strength and ability that we will succeed but by the grace of God. Come before Him with humility. Choose to love with the love of God and He will take care of every aspect of your life. He truly is the healer of broken hearts. Let us humble ourselves toward God and reach out to others with the humility and Love of God, forbearing one another, to minister His Word.