There are Bible subjects which cannot be preached too often. For example, a proper presentation of the Gospel cannot be preached too much, although the approach ought to be changed as often as possible. And, of course, the Lord Jesus Himself cannot be studied too often or too deeply. He is infinite, and so an infinite number of lessons are quite possible, even if our minds and hearts have their limits. Eternity will be filled with Christ Jesus, and the saints will never grow old or tired of our Saviour. In addition to these, there are subjects which probably might be preached too often, but which aren’t preached often enough. And one of those presents itself to us in this scripture.
Pride lays at the heart of all sin. To understand our sin – to understand ourselves – we must realize that pride is constantly lurking in our hearts and corrupting our souls. Pride gives people an unwarranted sense of independence – that we can live apart from the Lord. And in these situations – people think that the rule and rules of God don’t apply to us. Perhaps the thief might rationalize his sin by thinking that he deserves that other man’s property. The terrorist convinces himself that his religion or his country is superior to his neighbor’s. The drug dealer, or the drug addict, is motivated by greed – empowered by “his right” to those things. The sinner often says, “My doctrine, my philosophy, my brain is greater than yours.” It is even greater than God’s. But as Asaph said in Psalm 73:6 – “Pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.” That chain takes the sinner in a downward direction – away from the Lord.
In no other group do we see the effects of pride any more clearly than with the Pharisees. A certain “Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess.” There they are with their bold phylacteries and huge, colorful fringes on their garments. They love the uppermost rooms at feasts and chief seats in the synagogues. Oh, and they want to be called “rabbi,” “master,” and “Father.” Much of the rest of the chapter – the hypocrisy of the Pharisees was motivated and empowered by pride.
I have to confess that I have a problem with pride, and I am sure that you do as well – to some degree. So I am not surprised to hear our Saviour once again exhorting us to humility. “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” The Bible is replete with such exhortations, because the need is so great. James said, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” The Apostle Peter – “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” The Apostle Paul – “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” We have the words of the Lord Jesus, David, Solomon and a host of others Spirit-lead writers. Then besides these, there are the examples that we have in the best men and the worst men of the Bible. We have humble Daniel, John the Baptist, Joseph and so on. And then there are people like King Saul and a host of other monarchs – and these Pharisees. “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
What IS the grace of HUMILITY? What is it to be HUMBLE?
Humility involves lowliness, meekness, mildness, modesty and submissiveness. Webster says that it is: “Having or showing a consciousness of one’s defects or shortcomings. Not proud or self-assertive; modest. In a low condition, rank or position; unpretentious.” The word “humble” suggests an unassuming character in which there is absence of self-assertiveness. Not surprisingly, according to the Greek language, humility is best described as “an absence of pride.” Pride and humility are opposites.
A truly humble person will neither over-rate – nor under-rate – himself. For example…. John the Baptist was an humble soul – one who knew his true position under God and under Christ. But I’m sure that there were many Jews, of every stripe, who said to themselves, or said to John directly when they heard him preach, “You think that you’re better than the rest of us.” But there was no reason to say that – he didn’t believe that. Just because John told the truth and exhorted men to repent and to prepare for Christ, doesn’t mean he didn’t realize that he was just as sinful and just as spiritually needy as the very worse Sadducee. John had a work to do and a commission to fulfil, which didn’t require him to constantly explain himself. Just as he thought that he needed to be baptized by Christ, he knew that he needed to be saved by Christ. But as far as John was concerned – his hearers still needed the Lord’s salvation.
We are all aware that there is true humility and there is false humility. And just as we know the difference, so does the omniscient God. So as I say, we all prone towards pride, as rocks are prone to sink to the bottom of the filthy pond. We are all prone towards Phariseeism – that is true even of God’s Apostles. In Acts 10 Peter was busy preaching the gospel of Christ – but only among the Jews. Why was he unilaterally restricting the message of salvation? Wasn’t it his Jewish pride? It was essential that the Holy Spirit attack and eliminate that pride, so Peter was directly commissioned to take the gospel to the Gentile Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. His work order was illustrated with an unmistakable, inconfuseble vision – a sheet with all sorts of unclean animals – “And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.” But Peter’s pride kicked in. He expressed in the most humble way that he could, “Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” The key word is “Lord” – “Not so, LORD.” Doesn’t that statement suggest that Peter thought himself good enough to argue with God? Oh, but as I say, it was expressed in the most humble of ways.
What if he had responded, “But Lord, I’m not smart enough to talk to a heathen man about salvation”? “I’m not spiritual enough to answer the questions and problems which that man might raise.” That too might sound like humility, but remember that God had given Peter this personal commission. A fire might be fueled by dirty, filthy coal, or by mahogany and cherry wood. Peter’s external rebellion may have sounded pious, but it was fueled by a sin seriously hated by God. That declaration of inability, or in this case holiness, and his facade of “humility,” was actually the exact opposite – “pride.” Denying the person that you really are, and turning down the call of God, is not humility. Perhaps a synonym for false humility would be something like “spiritual hypochondria.”
Translating Peter’s situation in Acts 10 into our modern world, what to you is worst of all sins and therefore who is the worst of all sinners? For Peter the answer may have been summarized by the word “Gentile.” But for you it might be “drug dealer,” “child molester,” “homosexual,” or some thing else. What if the Lord brings that sort of person into your life in some manner, and the Holy Spirit convicts you about sharing the gospel with that person. What is the likelihood that you would refuse to obey the Lord? And upon what grounds would you rebelliously sin against God? Inability, hatred, fear, pride or humility?
Obviously, humility is opposed to pride, and thus humility also condemns one’s over-rating himself. This is a serpent who rises up when we compare ourselves with other people. I guarantee that as you compare yourself others, you will see people whom you might consider inferior, but if you look long enough you will also see someone who is better than you are. II Corinthians 10:12 – “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” You are who you are, and a part of Biblical humility is a simple recognition of the facts. John was a unique man of God, whom the Lord had called and equipped to carry out a special mission. That he recognized his commission and carried it out to the best of his ability, was not an act of pride. Despite his bold nature and that he rubbed people the wrong way, he was still a humble soul before God.
That verse from II Corinthians reminds us that “humility” and its rival – “pride” – are rooted in relationships. Biblical humility is to see ourselves in the light with which God sees us. And it is to behave properly in the light of that knowledge. Humility involves an understanding of who we are before the Lord. Again, using the Baptist as an example – John 1 – “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me….” And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”
Can you imagine how tempting it might have been for John to mention that he and Jesus were cousins? If he was aware of that relationship, he never mentioned it as far as the scriptures are concerned. There is a parallel to that in the half-brothers of our Lord, who didn’t overly-magnify their relationship, as they were saved and eventually began to serve the Lord. Humility flows out of a comparison with the Lord – but in His deity – not in anything less. Micah 6:8 – “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Think about the IMPORTANCE of this humility.
There are people who call themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” and they sometimes come to my door. I used to invite them in, until it became apparent that they were hopeless Now they don’t even get to stand on my welcome mat very long. I hang up on them as quickly as I do…. That is my personal standard – “Whatever you are selling, I am not buying.” Is my standard unreasonable? He might think so; but I don’t, and I have that right as far as my own house is concerned. The Lord has even more right than I have to determine what is right and what is wrong.
And Jehovah has determined that without humility no man will ever be acceptable with Him – ever. Humility is a part of the required attire before there is any admittance into the presence of God. That makes humility far more important than most people like to rank it. “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” “The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Obviously, humility has a role to play in the attitude of a repentant sinner. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” And without any doubt, we need the grace of God.
Humility has a key roll to play when it comes to prayer. God “resisteth (the prayers) of the proud, (but) give the grace to the humble.” “When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.” “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble.”
What about this question: Can a non-humble person be properly thankful? As long as there is a hint of pride or self importance involved in anything, can that person be truly thankful? Was that Pharisee truly thankful when he said, “I thank thee Lord, that I am not as other men are?” “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, UNTHANKFUL…” Pride and unthankfulness seem to be cousins. The Apostle Paul served the Lord, “with all humility of mind.” And why? I Corinthians 1 – “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” I have met preachers who were so full of themselves that their ministries – at least for me – were a waste of time. Can you name any large birds that can sing well? Turkey? Guinea fowl? Chicken? Ostrich? How many of these can fly well? How closely can we resemble our Saviour without possessing genuine humility?
The undeniable fact is that we are commanded to be humble. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Humility is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
What are the characteristics of Godly humility? It begins with the correct relationship to the Lord. Then it continues as a proper relationship to others – if that person was given the same grace as I have been given, he’d probably be a better man than I am. Humility ascribes all that we have and are to that divine grace. It disclaims any personal righteousness. It displays a willingness to be taught. And it manifests itself in a willingness to serve.
If we learn anything from the rest of this chapter it is that the Pharisees, while being children of Israel, were not children of God. Essentially, they were so full of themselves that they could not repent before God. They were so full of themselves that there was no room for the Lord. Their pride made them hypocrites and unbelievers as far as Christ Jesus was concerned. This is something to fear – this pride must be included in our repentance. You need the Saviour, and the Saviour hates your pride. Repent – truly and thoroughly repent – before God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.