Humility

“If you want true knowledge of the scriptures, try to secure steadfast humility of heart, to carry you by the perfection of love not knowledge that puffs up, but that enlightens.”

John Cassian (c.364-c.435)

Humble, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary means not proud; not think of yourself as better than other people. Humble, deriving from the Latin word humus, means soil. Unlike humility, when we are humiliated, we may feel like “dirt.” However, humility connotes having one’s foot on the ground of reality, being clear in one’s self-assessment. As Dag Hammarskojld wrote in Markings:“Humility is just as much the opposite of self-abasement (to lower one’s self down) as it is to self-exaltation (to lift one’s self up). To be humble is [not to make comparisons].”

--The Spiritual Formation Bible: Growing In Intimacy With God Through Scripture, NIV

How do you view humility?

When we choose to follow the word of God—not adding nor taking away from the scriptures—then we are choosing to trust God. We must learn to humble ourselves in the Lord, or be humbled by the Lord.

So what happens when we are humble?

Proverbs 22:4 NIV—Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.

1 Peter 5:6 NIV—Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Was Jesus even humble?

Luke 2:41-48 (Jesus exemplifies that at the age of 12, he was able to humble himself and glean from the teachers at the temple courts. [If God gleaned and inquired of God, who are not to humble ourselves and follow suit])

What happens when we choose not to humble ourselves?

Can you think of a time where you should have been humble but you let pride get in the way?

Daniel 4 (The humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar)

So who are the humble ones/the greatest?

The one who is able to humble themselves before the Lord.

What are some examples in which God tells us to be humble?

Matthew 18:1-6 NIV—At the time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Luke 9:46 NIV—An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.

When you think of a child, what qualities do you normally associate with them?

Here are some qualities that a child represents in the Word:

•  Trusting
•   Lowly
•  Loving
•  Forgiving
•  Humble

Recall moments when you have felt humiliated. Then, by contrast, consider what it means to see yourself humble, simply as you are, without comparison to someone else.

I pray this blesses you!