Lesson on humility
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love
From Wikipedia
Humility, or being humble, is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. The opposite of humility is pride.
Humility is said to be the foundation of the spiritual edifice and inferior only to faith. However, humility is considered the first virtue inasmuch as it removes the obstacles to faith. It removes pride and makes a man subject to and a fit recipient of grace; according to the words of St. James, "God resisteth the proud, and giveth his grace to the humble
Definition from the free dictionary
ap•pre•ci•ate ( -pr sh - t )
v. ap•pre•ci•at•ed, ap•pre•ci•at•ing, ap•pre•ci•ates
v.tr.
1. To recognize the quality, significance, or magnitude of: appreciated their freedom.
2. To be fully aware of or sensitive to; realize: I appreciate your problems.
3. To be thankful or show gratitude for: I really appreciate your help.
4. To admire greatly; value.
Ok aside from reading a bunch of definitions, what does humility really mean and why is it important? Why must you break yourself. Break your self pride. Marvel in humility. Before the fall of man, everything was God focused. What did God desire. After the fall we see that man had become self focused. Selfish motivations and desires. What do I want, not what does God want. It is often this sense of self that causes us to sin. But aside from that. Embracing humility is the only way to fully understand appreciation. Once you fully grasp that you deserve nothing. That you can do nothing to deserve anything. Then you can fully learn to appreciate everything in your life. To understand that God provides for every moment of your life. That His hand is in it. strip your pride off and throw it out. no one can stand up to God and say “you owe me this”. so if no one can do that then we need to submit to Him and completely humble ourselves. You do not deserve the life you have. You do not deserve the car you drive. You do not deserve the spouse you have. There is nothing so special of you that you are more important than a bum on the street. There is nothing that you have done to earn a life any better than a starving child be it in this country or in another country. Everything you have is a blessing. Once you grasp this you can learn appreciation. You can wipe away griping being stuck in traffic, you can wipe away a relationship that ended, you can wipe away the things that you think are not fair. And start to look at life through the perspective of being grateful for the things you have. The big things are fine. But how about the small things. The fact that you were able to enjoy ¼ of the superbowl before your cable went out. the fact that you were able to spend 6 months with someone you loved. It ended but the 6 months were great. You can appreciate that even though you cant drive a audi r8, you can drive period. Then we can truly learn to praise God for the things we have. Then we can learn to truly be thankful. When was the last time you stopped to thank God for a breath that you take. Or for being allowed to live in a moment that is painful. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying to enjoy the pain, but still to enjoy the fact that you have life, and pain is just another indication that you are alive.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4
Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
Zephaniah 2:3
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seekhumility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Philippians 2:2-4 (in Context) Philippians 2 (Whole Chapter)
Leviticus 26:19
I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.
2 Kings 19:22
Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes inpride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
2 Chronicles 26:16
But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
It tastes perfect…
There is a story I once heard from a friend who heard it from somewhere. What I mean to say is that I have no idea where it comes from, but I know this, it is a good story and illustrates a good point. Once there were 3 people sitting around and decided to drink some wine. They poured the wine and they each took sips. The first one said, this wine is terrible. I’ve never had something so bad. The second tasted the wine and agreed saying that there was something wrong with it. the third smelled, sipped, and tasted. He said it is perfect. The two looked at him with astonishment, saying, how could you think this is perfect. The third gently turned and said this is not wine, it is vinegar. And as vinegar goes it is perfect.
He understood that although they had meant to drink wine, what they turned out to have was vinegar. And that it was not a wine that they were tasting, it was vinegar. What would our life look like if we looked at our situations a bit differently. Instead of thinking of situations as bad, we can look at them for what they are. They are different situations totally. If we removed our expectations. If we didn’t see ourselves as failing, but learning, if saw opportunity, if we saw things in a different perspective. Totally removing expectations of events and savoring moments whether they be wine or vinegar.
Taste the apple.
Practice grace, kindness, love, being just, practice the things of God. Practice them every day that you can. Know them inside out. learn how they feel and become them. Swim in them, experience them. We must continue to grow. We must not stop. We must continue to mature while not getting old at the same time. We need to learn all of these things on an experiential level. To know what they would feel like to the touch, to be able to recognize them from sight, to feel them as they occur. If we do not do these things then we miss out on so much of God. We do not get to know Him as intimately as we could. If I could tell you what particles go together to make an apple. Even tell you that the apple is sweet and crunchy, while remaining a medium density, that when you bite into it the juices might run down your chin in a sticky sweetness. If I’ve never had an apple I would miss out on so much more of what the apple is. Knowledge is wonderful, it’s beautiful. It dances around us and gives us substance while at the same time providing us information for dreams. But experience puts color into the dream. It enriches it like knowledge cant. Practice these things with all of your heart.
know what it’s like to show mercy
let yourself receive mercy
know what it’s like to give grace
let yourself receive the grace of others
know what it’s like to love
let yourself be loved
Understand that God is all these things. Grow to know God more and more.
I heard someway say onetime that they would rather be an open sinner than a false saint. How about that. On one side you have someone yearning to be true to who they are, that they don't want to live out a lie. On the other side you have to admit that you sin.
