SCRIPTURE GEMS - 8

SCRIPTURE GEMS – 8

Humility is a trait difficult to find but is a gem to a character.  Jam.4:10   Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will lift you up.  This is a verse important to memorize and keep on our hearts at all times.  So what is humility?  Several phrases could be used to define it:  make low, loss of prestige, lowering of one’s estimation of self.  This last one is a big one.  In our minds we are good; we are right; we are able to tell others what would be best for them; our ideas are the best to follow.  Lk.18:9 gives us a good thought—those who “trust in themselves”.

What would be the opposite of humble?  Pride.  Proverbs gives us some wise words about pride.  Prov.16:18   In general it is difficult to get others to follow you if you are full of a prideful spirit.  Prov.26:12 does not describe a man of pride in a very complimentary way.

No one on earth was in such high position as our Lord.  He was in heaven at the right hand of God, the Son of God.  Yet Jesus was willing to make Himself low and give up that position in heaven with humility to come to earth to suffer and die that we might have salvation and live with Him eternally some day.  Phil.2:8   No better example of humility could be found.  Matt.11:29

Jesus was willing to associate with sinners to the dismay of the Pharisees.  Lk.7:39   Are we ever “too good” to tell someone “lower” than us socially about Jesus or invite them to church.  Sometimes it may be that we are not “good enough” to invite someone “higher” in the social ladder to come to learn about Jesus.  Americans pride ourselves in equality and yet even Christians are guilty of practicing a caste system.  Prov.25:6,7

None of us can think of ourselves as righteous.  Rom.3:23   We wouldn’t call ourselves perfect and yet we fail to realize how much we stumble.  Jam.3:2   The only righteousness we will ever have comes from Jesus.  2 Cor.5:21   That fact should cause us to feel humble.

The outcome of a humble spirit is worth more than gold to us.  Matt.23:11,12   We are greatly rewarded for humility.  Prov.22:4   An example is given against the city of Jerusalem in 2 Chron.12:7.  Humility changed God’s attitude toward them just as it will in the case of our country.  2 Chron.7:14

Sometimes God allows us to go through problems to humble us.  The Prodigal Son was one example.  Pride was followed by destitution until “he came to his senses.”  Lk.15:17   We need to come to our senses.  Paul had many reasons to be proud.  Phil.3 states his accomplishments and background but it all meant nothing to him for the sake of Christ.  Phil.3:4,7

As a rule a little child realizes his dependency upon others.  Jesus used a little child as an example of a humble spirit in Matt.18:4.  Our spirit toward others makes a difference.  It takes humility to receive instruction.  Prov.10:17   Discipline comes close to this.  Prov.12:1  

A proud spirit would find it difficult to forgive.  Eph.4:32   It takes a humble spirit to forgive which is so important to our forgiveness.  Matt.18:35   This is taken from the parable of the master and the servant.  The importance is also stressed in Matt.6:15.  A humble heart is necessary to realize all blessings come from God for which and to Whom we must be thankful.  1 Thess.5:18

We are told to confess our sins one to another.  Jam.5:16   This requires a lot of humility but it helps to be held accountable to someone even though we know we are accountable to God.  Being submissive to those over us takes humility whether it is home, church, work, or government.  1 Pet.2:18,20

Humility is found in many descriptions of a Christian character.  1 Pet.3:8; Col.3:12; 1 Pet.5:5   Walking worthy of our calling in Jesus requires humility.  Eph.4:1,2   We are rewarded in many ways if we are humble.  Jam.4:6

Whatever we must do, it will be worth it all.  Lk.9:23-25   So let us keep the words in Jam.4:10 ever in our heart as we go about our daily lives.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.