Home
Search
Topics
Contact
About

Humility

I have a problem with pride. You have a problem with pride. Here are Webster*s definitions of humble: Modest, respectful, deferential, lowly, unpretentious, low in status. Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride is thinking we are above others or that we are better than they are or more important. Pride tries to put itself above others. Humility is putting ourselves below others. The worst symptom of pride is putting ourselves above God and thinking that we don*t need Him. When we compare ourselves with God, none of us have anything to be proud of. There are 5,280 feet in a mile. Let*s say that unbelievers are 5,280 feet below God and believers are just 5,279 feet below God. Compared with God there isn*t much difference unbelievers and unbelievers. We are all sinners. We don*t enjoy people that think they are better than us. We prefer individuals who think highly of us, or at least think that we are about the same as they are. It is much easier to see the pride in others than the pride in ourselves. Even unbelievers can see the pride in others. We need God*s help to see the pride in ourselves.

Daniel 4:37: Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

James 4:6: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Romans 12:3: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Romans 12:10: Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

1 Peter 5:5: 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.

1 Peter 5:6: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Peter seems to imply that we can humble ourselves but pride is a part of our flesh. Our flesh cannot make itself humble. God is able to make us humble. That is one of the things He does when He saves us and makes us new creatures. Pride is sin and humility is righteous. Pride is a sin that believers can still commit.

Jeremiah 13:23: Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Like Job, we cannot make ourselves or others humble any more than we can save ourselves.

Job 40:9: Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. 13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. 14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

Matthew 5:3: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew Henry*s Concise Commentary on Matthew 5:3-12:

Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer.

Dear God, make us humble. Make me humble!

Care to discuss Humility with Ron?

He'd also like to hear your prayer requests