Beth-El Baptist Church

02/18/2007

Greg Tomlinson

 

What does it mean to have humility?

 

Humility is a virtue about which is said that once you claim to have it, you have lost it. In many ways it is an unattainable virtue but one that we are called to pursue. In order to pursue it, we must first understand it.

 

1.      What is humility compared with?

2 Chronicles 12:5-8; 34:26-27         

Psalm 10:9-11

Proverbs 16:19                                

Matthew 18:3-4; 23:11-12

Acts 8:32-33                               

Romans 10:3    see Isaiah 6:1-5

Philippians 2:5-8

 

One of the best descriptions of humility is a comparison of humility to a hunting lion. The lion seeks to make itself as small as possible so that it can essentially disappear. Thus humility is the act of making oneself disappear so that others, in particular God, shines through. Ultimately though the humility of man is to be held in comparison with the righteousness of God.

 

2.      What are the benefits of being humble?

Leviticus 26:41-42                Deuteronomy 8:1-5

2 Chronicles 12:12                     Job 22:29

Psalm 10:17-18                            Proverbs 18:12; 22:4; 29:23

Isaiah 57:15                                 Lamentations 3:18-24

James 4:6, 10                          1 Peter 5:5-7

 

Humility before God will result in your receiving grace and being lifted up by God. It is only the humble that will be saved for they understand their natural value in the eyes of God and know that they are nothing. It is therefore the humble that will be lifted up and exalted because of God’s grace and mercy.

 

3.      What does a humble person do?

Psalm 9:12-14; 35:13-14; 69:30-33                  2 Samuel 16:1-4

2 Kings 22:19                                                               2 Chronicles 7:14; 30:9-11

Micah 6:8                                                         Luke 14:7-11; 18:13-14

Acts 20:19-21                                                          Philippians 2:3-4

 

The humble person cries out to God for mercy, understanding that he deserves nothing but the wrath of God. He mourns for others, even those who are his enemies. The humble shows compassion toward others. He also “lowers” himself so that others can receive any sort of preferential treatment for those who are better then they are.

 

4.      What happens to those that will not be humble?

Exodus 10:3-6

Deuteronomy 8:14-17

1 Kings 21:20-29

2 Chronicles 32:24-26; 33:12-13, 23-24

Isaiah 45:23 cmp Philippians 2:10

1 John 4:20-21

 

Everyone who refuses to humble themselves before God, will be humbled before God for he will humble them. A person who is not humble before other men cannot possibly be humble before God.

 

Summary

To have humility is to view yourself as less important than others. Other people are to be more important in our eyes then we view ourselves. This does not mean that we are to belittle ourselves and mistreat or punish ourselves but we put the needs of others before out own, as much as is reasonably possible. Part of being humble is to mourn and cry out to God for mercy for ourselves as well as for others who we see as living their lives as continuous enemies of God by forsaking, neglecting, and denying him.