If God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (Ja 4:6), then humbling ourselves as much as we can is essential (1Pe 5:6), the key to God’s way. What is humility, why don’t I pursue it, and how do I grow here?
Humility is thinking of myself realistically, not more highly than I ought (Ro 12:3), comparing myself with Christ, not my neighbor. It’s admitting that without God, I’d likely be the most evil person who has ever lived, being poor in spirit, needing infinite mercy (Lk 18:13), and being afflicted in this. (Jas 4:9)
Even though there’s nothing good in me I can take credit for (Ro 7:18), humility often seems distasteful, repugnant; in being childlike (Mt 18:4), lowly, less significant before Man (Php 2:5), I feel vulnerable, less valued, yet this was where my Savior found rest, and calls me to follow. (Mt 11:29)
Food for humility is found in Messiah’s Cross: I’ve nothing else to glory in. (Gal 6:14) That cross is for me, and I very much deserve it. But Jesus Christ humbles Himself there (Php 2:8), taking my place and giving Himself to rescue me. (Gal 1:4) When I’m prompted by the enemy to be satisfied in my goodness (Is 64:6), smug in my knowledge, safe in my self-sufficiency, exalted in my own talents and wisdom (Je 9:23-24), I can look to Yeshua (He 12:2) and remember where I’d be without Him. (1Co 1:29-31)
Knowing God is both my Judge and Defender frees me from fear and shame to rejoice in God, to be preoccupied with Him while serving others (Php 2:4), to esteem others better than myself, to be clothed with humility. (1Pe 5:5)
If God works all things after the council of His own will, creating us according to His design, equipping our minds and souls and spirits with His gifts, and ordering the circumstances of our lives for His glory, what room is there in our hearts for pride?
The humility of Christ cannot be related to His thinking too highly of Himself, nor can it be related to His thinking lowly of Himself. It seems to me that the humility of Christ is in His willingness to become a man, condescending to become one of His own creatues, and becoming a servant to His creatures.
It is in this way, in posturing ourselves as servants to God and others, that I think humility is primarily manifested. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:28)
Tim,
Appreciate the Word. Especially the reminder that:
Humility is having a servant’s heart, focusing on God and others rather than myself.
Now the hard part, to focus on being a Doer of the Word 🙂
My attitude definitely gets Tested on that servant’s heart towards others. He IS Faithful.
Stephen
Agreed. Doers! Pray for me, and I for you! 🙂
Tim, thank you for speaking at the shul on this topic. I believe, first and foremost, a humble person must walk in the fear of the Lord. Prov 8:13 reads “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted (false, fraud) speech I hate.” When a person walks in the fear of the Lord all the other attributes can be seen; i.e. a teachable spirit 1 Pet 5:5, Matt 18:4. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, Phil 2:3.