Before Honor is Humility

Dear Brethren,

What is humility, and how important is humility to our Christian lives?  The apostle, Peter, urges us to, "...be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."  (1 Peter 5:5-6)  Godly humility recognizes that everyone of God's people is significant and necessary to the whole body.

Here is a Biblical definition of humility:  Paul warns us that none of us should, "think of himself more highly than he ought."   (Romans 12:3).  When we were young – we were apt to think, "I did it all myself."  Perhaps we thought to ourselves, "I am a self-made man."  Humility is learning the opposite:  We are not self-sufficient.  Not only does Paul warn us not to compare ourselves among ourselves in 2 Corinthians 10:12, he adds rather,  "In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."  (Philippians 2:3)

The best example of humility is Jesus Christ’s own personal example.  "Being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."  (Philippians 2:8)  Paul also expressed Christ's humble way like this:  “ You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich."  (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Our human nature wants us to be important, to have things our way.  Human nature wants to be boss.  Human nature wants to look good.   Humility, on the other hand, is being down to earth and free of pretense.  Human nature wants the attention and the “lime light.”  Human nature wants to be recognized and rewarded.  Human nature is status-conscious.  Humility is reliance on God – knowing that we do not possess all the answers.

Godly humility is accepting ourselves as we truly are, so that we fight the urge to inflate our social status or to pretend to be something more than we really are.  Our human nature wants us to claw our way up the ladder of success, and to have the high position or rank.  Just like Diotrephes in III John – human nature wants the preeminence.  True humility is the complete surrender of ourselves to God for His use in any way, at any time.

Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation.  He became the lowest of the low.  Humility for us is showing God that we willingly take on the “dirty jobs” that no one else wants to do, without seeking the credit.  "Let this mind [a humble mind] be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.  Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, But made Himself of no reputation [humility], taking the form of a servant, like a man . . . And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."  (Philippians 2:5-8)

Our Christianity requires that we do not become frustrated or get angry because we think we have not been given a sufficiently prestigious assignment at work, at home, or at play.  God says humility is a basic requirement that He expects of us:  "What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  (Micah 6:8)

Pride is the enemy of humility.  Pride is the opposite of humility.  Human nature wants to be praised and honored.  "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility."  (Proverbs 15:33)  Humility is recognizing the potential divinity of every other person – and acting toward them accordingly.

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Sermon:

"Before Honor is Humility"