The dictionary defines humility as : A life marked by meekness and modesty in behaviour, attitude and spirit. Not proud or arrogant; humble although successful, Someone who is courteously respectful. I wonder if this is a description of you today?
When I say the word “arrogant”, who immediately comes to mind? As I say this, our minds are flicking through images of the arrogance of so many people that we encounter on a daily basis! The world is full of those who love themselves and let others know about it…. the saddest thing of all, is that often amongst Christians it is no different. Christian life often seems to be all about us: Pastor’s smiling faces posted over billboards and websites, million dollar ministries and the like. How often don’t we tend to celebrate the person who has a special gift rather than rejoicing in the giver of the gift. How often don’t we tell God what He must do and cannot do “I command this and that!” Reality is, that pride affects us all even Christians! The desire to draw attention to ourselves and our own importance, instead of directing people to God, often overtakes many of us. John Piper reminds us that, “the universe exists for the glory of God and not for the significance of man!”
Hebrews 2: 6 reminds us of how insignificant we really are in our universe, when the writer asks the question “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?” When we look at the world around us, the power of the wind, the oceans, earthquakes and the majesty of the mountains and nature surrounding us. When we are confronted with the hugeness of the stars and the heavens above …. we are reminded of our smallness and life is put into perspective for us! The book of James reminds us that we need to be careful how we live our lives, for we are nothing more than a mist, “here today and Gone tomorrow!”
James 4:13 – “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil” God calls us to live lives of humility towards Him and towards those around us. Philippians 2 :3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
The greatest example of humility of course, being Jesus Christ Himself! “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10 : 35 . Jesus Christ gave up His position in heaven and came down to live amongst us and to pay with His life. Hanging out with sinners and broken lives, washing the disciples feet, hanging on the cross; when at anytime He could have called down thousands of angels to set Himself free! We are called to live lives that are other person centred not self-centered, not all about me, myself and I! The story of the Good Samaritan stands out clearly foes it not? Romans 12 : 3 “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Philippians 2 :5- 8 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”. Jesus had every reason to be arrogant and say, “I’m the man!” but He did not. His desire was to bring glory to His Father. “Not my will be done but yours!”
Be careful how you live… as one who considers others first and does not draw attention to themselves and reveling in the praise of men and women! Let’s not seek to build ourselves up but rather let’s point others to Christ. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”
Philippians 2:9-12 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Our reward is stored up for us in heaven. May we be people who humbly love and serve others and choose to follow the example of our savior Jesus Christ.
