Honk Honk

Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Bad Boy, Bad Pride

Needless to say, God does not like those who are prideful. These are just a few bites of scripture that reveal the disdain for prideful ways. It is humility that God exhorts in scripture. God loves the humble. I am not talking about those who mask pride and try to pass it off as being humble. You know, the “Oh thank you, yes, that was a great prayer, but those are not my words; they are God’s, and he gave them to me to say.” Is this being humble or the backdoor blowing of one’s own horn?

Good Girl, Good Humility

God highly prizes humility, but we really should know what humility is. I can tell you it is not the statement above. One thing we should remember is that we all have self-worth in the eyes of God. We are His creation made in His image. So, humility is not thinking we are worthless or “not good enough.” What we need is a very detailed and abstemious assessment of ourselves. When we make this clear assessment of ourselves, we do not give ourselves credit for being more than what we are. Our humility is related to our self-control. It is knowing that the fruits of our salvation are not grown by us but by the mercies and grace of God, who spurs our desires to magnify His works. This magnification of God’s glory is so that God receives worship and praise, not us.

Know Your Place

A genuinely humble person gives honor where honor is due. Conversely, the person of pride provides undue honor for themselves and withholds honor from those who deserve it. There is a lack of recognition of one’s proper relationship in creation. When we understand our place in creation, we can adequately give honor where it is due; we can truly be humble. Be Humbled

You should be humbled when you look out your window and see the beauty of the snow. As the sun sets, looking at a radiant pink sky should humble you to see God’s creation in action. To see children playing on a playground should bring joy and hope, humbling us to see God at work in the next generation.

When I hear a great pastor like Martyn Lloyd Jones speak, God humbles me that He would even allow me to say the exact words of scripture. God’s work in me is humbling. I could never do the things God has put before me without Him working in me.

Know your place in creation and be humble and kind; our Savior will bless you if you keep His words as He instructed us.

Praise Christ Jesus, through whom all things are made. Peace