In the past few days I have been learning about humility. God has been speaking to me through His word and other people about humility. In one of my most recent posts I shared the fact that to be great you need to be humble. I have seen how important a role humility plays in the life of a christian.
The verse I used in that post was James 4:10 which says:
Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].
But this past week I believe God has been speaking to me about what humility means in a life of a person. The first thing I have seen is, humility is the hallmark of a christian, well it should be a hallmark! The great men and women of the bible and even nowadays are and where humble. They knew who was really in control!
And that is the essence of humility. Humility is coming to a realisation that you are not in control but instead realising God is. It is coming to a place where you know that everything you have and everything you have accomplished is because of God. Yes you had a part to play but it was God who was in control. We need to learn to be humble.
The funny thing about humility is, once you think you have it you actually don’t!
I was reading a post a few days ago and I was struck by a comment the blogger said. They said,
“I still believe the most humble man on earth still thinks too highly of himself for God.”
And that is the truth. We are proud people who need the grace of God.
1Peter 5:6 says:
For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful) – [and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favour, blessing) to the humble.
My goal for this post is to make you analyse yourself. Are you humble, really?
Another scripture to take note of is Proverbs 18:12 and it says:
Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honour.
One more important thing to note is, humility is not being a doormat. It is not letting people walk all over you. It is not tearing yourself down and allowing people to disrespect you.
God does not tear you down. God loves you. So why do we tear ourselves down? I have seen people unable to recieve a compliment. You are not been proud if you recieve a compliment. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! I used to think it was wrong but I was taught there was nothing wrong with accepting a compliment. When someone compliments you accept it but in yourself give God the glory!
Humility. I want to be a humble person. I want people to see it. Can people describe you as being humble?
In your own life is God the main focus or is it the things that you do? Is it God you always elevate or yourself?
As I end I want to read an excerpt of a book I was reading that captures humility perfectly. The book is called God’s Secret Agent by Sammy Tippit.
“You know,” the old man continued,” many people come to my country and want to make a big fire for God. I don’t want to make a big fire for God. I want to be consumed by God’s fire until I am ashes. And when I am ashes, then I will see His glory. Do you understand me?
I thought he was asking me if I understood his German. I told him I did.
No, no,” he said,” do you understand what I am telling you?
When I am so much nothing that God is everything, then I will see His glory.
George Whitefield, the great evangelist of the 1700s, once said,” Let the name of George Whitefield rot in hell, but let the name of Jesus Christ be glorified forever.”
I hope you have been challenged. Humility is one of the hallmarks of a christian. Do you have the same attitude as the men I just quoted? Let us ask God for His grace to be humble.
Rolain.
kingspeech 