February 2010   

The Importance of Showing Humility The Humility of God Humility is part of the character of God, ‘... the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth  himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! (Psa 113:5,6) Humility (or lowliness) is a quality which is pleasing to God, ‘. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit...’ (Isa 57:15). The Humility of the Lord Christ The Lord Jesus Christ is our example of how to show humility, ‘.. Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death...’ (Heb 2:9).  In an appeal to the people he said, ‘.. learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: ..’ (Matt 11:29).  As he entered Jerusalem for the last time, before being taken by the hands of men to be crucified, the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 was fulfilled, ‘.. behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass...’.   The Humility to be Shown by Christians Pride, which is the opposite characteristic to humility, proceeds from within, out of the heart of man (Mark 7:21,22).  Meekness (similar to humility) is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  A person receives the Holy Spirit when believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and thereafter, there will be changes in the heart and mind of the believer, by the same Holy Spirit, and through learning by reading the Word of God. The need for humility must have been learned by the apostle Paul at, or soon after, his conversion.  When bidding farewell to the Ephesians’ elders, he said that he served the Lord with all humility of mind while with them.  Hence, Paul’s appeal for humility to be shown by believers, was included in some of his epistles (or letters) to the churches.  To those at Colosse, he wrote, ‘put on … humbleness of mind’; to the Ephesians, ‘walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness … forbearing one another in love;’, and also to the Philippians, ‘Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.’ A similar message is given by the apostle Peter in his first epistle, ‘.. all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ By humility we show respect, love and concern for other brethren and sisters, and with the aim of encouraging and edifying them in the faith.  May we aspire to the challenge of Paul, ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God … made himself of no reputation, and took the form of a servant, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil 2:5-8). “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10