Humility

Humility

Building monuments to yourself

(J.R. Miller)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit" Philippians 2:3

No grace shines more brightly in a Christian, than humility. Wherever SELF comes in--it mars the beauty of the work we are doing. Seek to do your work quietly. Do not try to draw attention to yourself, to make people know that you did this or that beautiful thing. Be content to pour your rich life into other wasted, weary lives, and see them blessed and made more holy--and then withdraw and let Christ have the honor. Work for God's approval, and even then, do not think much about reward. Seek to be a blessing to others--and never think of self-advancement. Do not worry about credit for your work, or about building monuments to yourself; be content to do good in Christ's name.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved--clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" 1 Peter 5:5

Addition Dr. Morris:

            Alright, I admit it: The most vicious enemy of the man who works hard, tries to make something of himself, wants his light to shine before others, humbleness. Just as it is not difficult for a homeless person to be a tighter, so it is not difficult for a ne'er-do-well to be humble.

            God kept the children of Israel wandering in the desert wilderness for 40 years to humble them. "And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deuteronomy 8:3).

            I'm sure this nearly three million people, delivered from bondage had rather to have been humbled in the promise land of milk and honey, and, stiff necked, rebellious, their bones were left in the wilderness because of their unwillingness to obey God.

            A rebellious-egotistical-self centered man is talking to you. Early in life, caught up with the parable of the sower.  "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" (Mark 4:19). I said to my grandson one day, getting into my nice car which I have never seen, "You can not imagine what a wild driver your grandfather was when he was young. It is just the grace of God that I did not kill myself or someone else. But, God knows how to slow you down. Blind, he told me, 'You will not drive again.' The last independence a man wants to give up."

            We live in a "get ahead" world, so many books on self improvement. The ambitious person wants to excel professionally, and in business. He wants his success evident to everyone. We, human beings, just wired that way. This writer's father, a very successful farmer, would mow the weeds up and down the miles of roads on his land so that all passers by could see that he had better crops than anyone else. His children were supposed to achieve better in school, look and act better everywhere. We had a beautiful-comfortable home, the tireless work of the hardest working man I have ever known. Thank God his children inherited this industriousness-good grades, high regard in the professional world. 

            I did not teach the men under me in the military to be humble. Reluctant-humble warriors never win. I believe our blessed Lord was speaking of his spirit in us, a spirit of putting God first in everything. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

            This writer was never a good athlete but we know that sensitive-careful teams must equate their aggressiveness with sportsmanship. It is a beautiful thing to know a winning ball team..using every aggressive "play" in order to win, still capable of manly sportsmanship. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Cor 9:24).  The Christian must learn that everyone claiming the name of Christ is not called, chosen by God before the foundation of the world. Our long suffering God has given us the example. To those not saved but think they are saved, to those who are saved and know they are saved, to those lost in the quandary of the world, God help us to be kind, one to another.  "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph 4:32).