This is our second segment on being a success for the kingdom.
Last week we talked about trusting God and how that was the first step in being a success. Today, we are going to take some time to study God’s word on humility
So today’s key verse comes from
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory. But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
Vain-glory or pride says look what I’ve accomplished. Humility says I can take satisfaction in knowing I am doing God’s will and giving Him the glory for all that he’s doing.
It would be reasonable to say that satisfaction and humility can coexist. When we take satisfaction in knowing we are doing God’s will, we can be content in our circumstances. Because we know that He will fulfill or meet our needs. By surrendering all that we are, leaving nothing of the self, then and only then can we experience true humility.
Pride could never be satisfied with its own circumstances. Pride would always want to rise above everyone and everything. Pride fights God at every turn.
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Whenever you hear about a successful person in the Bible, one of the things associated with them is that they were humble.
There was Moses. He was very meek yet God spoke to him directly. Not in dreams or visions as some prophets. But one on one.
God can take someone who is a willing vessel and mold him into someone he can use. But if that vessel is full of oneself then that leaves no room for God to work in that person’s life. God used Moses because he was willing to submit, and to humble himself.
Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.
I can’t imagine being the most humble person on the planet.
To put everyone else ahead of you. You’re at the back of the line. If you’re standing in the grocery line and someone asks to go ahead of you, you take a step back. And if another person asks to go ahead of you, you take a step back. If we practiced true humility our life would be consumed with the needs of others and not ourselves. We would always want to take a step back. Not because we are afraid of the big guy in the line, but because we want to do everything out of love for others.
1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear. Because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because he first loved us
Then there was Saul, who was anything but humble.
He was a persecutor of those who walked with Jesus. He was judge, jury, and executioner.
Sometimes we choose to be humble and sometimes God humbles us.
Saul, soon to be Paul was on the road to Damascus when Jesus confronted him with his persecution of his people and blinded him. How humbling is that, that you have to have others lead you around by the hand. Paul was blind for 3 days. In 3 days God had turned Paul into someone he could use. After he regained his sight the first thing he did was reach out to the disciples. He spent a few days with them and then started preaching in the synagogue that Jesus Christ is the son of God. This is the same man that just a few days ago wanted to persecute those who were in The way. The way of Christ.
When confronted by almighty God it’s hard not to be humbled. The following verse shows the new and improved Paul.
Acts 20:19
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews
Even though others plotted against him he continued to serve the Lord with humility and tears.
The workplace can be a dog eat dog environment.
I’ve been in places like that. Places where you need to keep your back up against the wall. There’s always someone who wants to get ahead, and they will step over you to do it. You can let the actions of others beat you down or you can draw strength from Christ to see you through it. You may not be at the top of the food chain, but at least your integrity will be intact. With time you will be recognized for your achievements not because you were in the spotlight, but because you were humble and did what God required.
Paul believed that and affirms it in the following verse.
2 Corinthians 10:17-18
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Jesus has given us numerous examples of true humility. One that comes to mind is His entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey, not in grand style upon a white horse, but upon a beast of burden.
There are many who want to be seen. They use their possessions as a means of bringing attention to themselves. Their sense of worth is tied to material things and not to their relationship with the Savior.
Riding on a Harley-Davidson with lots of chrome and loud pipes, shouts look at me. Maybe you bought that bike just because you just like to ride. But you really need to examine your motives.
If you like to ride couldn’t you be content with a used Honda? I only say that because I had a used Honda, and I have to be honest I still had a little bit of look at me. All I’m saying is, it’s okay to have something nice and shiny, but don’t let it overshadow The One who gave it to you.
Proverbs 16:18-19 ESV
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Before we close today I’d like to share something I read by Andrew Murray.
I had never heard of him until I started this episode. Murray was a pastor in South Africa and has written numerous books. This is what he had to say about humility.
“Humility is, perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is troubled.”
I’d like to thank you for listening today. If you enjoy listening to this podcast I would encourage you to share it with your friends and family. It is mainly by word of mouth that Perspective For Today finds its audience.
Next week we will take a look at courage and what it means to be bold for the kingdom.