The Humility Factor

Remember this week is simple conversations about life issues

Do not be fooled. Humility is not “weakness.”

Humility is strength. It takes courage to humble oneself, to show mercy, to value someone more than yourself, and to offer forgiveness over judgment. 

Humility isn't a human characteristic. We were born in sin and even after being "Born-Again" we remain in a sinful body. Our body knows sin personally as, "pride." If it has its way, it will operate in pride regularly.

Humility is a God characteristic. For God to love us at the level He does, the God of all creation chooses to live in a "Humble" state.  

Humility does not reduce our importance

I do not agree with our English definition that includes “humility is having a low opinion of one's own importance. God knows His importance and it is not in any manner "a low opinion of it." It is a controlled opinion of it, and a merciful application of it.  Humility does not reduce our importance.

We need to know how to operate at God's level of humility. Scripture states in several places that we can perish or fail for a lack of knowledge. 

Therefore, knowing can do the opposite. Knowing or having the knowledge of God can increase our understanding of life in general. Today’s Scripture’s show us the operational effects of pride and humility on God’s relationship with us.

In the Old Testament, Proverbs 16:18 gave us insight to a prideful life. The life Lucifer chose. Pride is the opposite of humility and the precursor of destruction in a person's life.

As we move into the New Testament, 1st Peter 5;5-9, shares an outline of the outcomes to our choices regarding humility but a little deeper than Proverbs.  The choice to be humble, or the choice to be proud, can radically affect 4 major areas of life. 

Peter encourages us to "be clothed in humility. "Clothed means: to be in the realm of AND operate one’s life in a particular way." In the context of the verse, it is operating in humility. 

There are no gray areas in dealing with humility or pride

Humble means: To accept and act in a manner which esteems one higher than oneself.

Pride means: To be high minded, puffed up and expect esteem from others.  

God describes the problem of a prideful attitude or lifestyle to Peter in detail. He tells Peter there are 4 distinct areas of life blessings that are lost when pride is engaged.

By not going into detail but just listing the four areas, it gives you an opportunity to study and examine this for yourself. Write me a note if you have questions or you found something amazing to share.

The Four

1. God states He's sent some "Grace" to us (what was needed to be saved) but Peter says God wants us to know there's more "Grace" available. Most Christians haven't been taught Grace is God's way of changing the impossible. There is opportunity for "Grace" to rebirth life issues (save us) if we operate in humility. Relationships can be "reborn." Bad habits removed and good habits "reborn." 

2. God has an opportunity waiting for every Christian to experience and live an "Exalted Life" here on planet Earth. It's the spiritual uplifting so many Christians are searching and praying to experience. 

3. Humility puts us in a position to recognize and experience the "Care of God." Humility opens our hearts to live and understand God's affection, forethoughts, direction, and provisions He has established to help us live a successfully blessed life.

4. Humility is the key to understanding how to resist the devil’s advances against us. Resistance is automatic if we are humble and focused on God's Words and Will. As we focus on Him, He draws nearer to us. His presence near us alone causes the enemy to flee.

Think about these things. Go study a bit.

Live Humble dependent on God's Grace.