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"Therefor Humble Yourself. . ."
by Karin Paparelli
Humility. It seems the more you seek it, the more it evades you. What
does it really mean to be humble and why does God take delight in those
who are humble? I have found that just when I think I have arrived at
humility, I’m really only puffed up with pride. With every success
that comes my way humility becomes that much harder to grasp. But when
your life is falling apart and you are reeling from defeat, that is when
humility is very close at hand. Does that mean we are to desire defeat.
I think not, although those times of failure may serve to open the door
to allow humility to come in. Once he is inside it is up to you to invite
him to stay or to throw him out when you’re back on your feet. You
can find humility on the mountain tops too, he is just much harder to
find there. How about a true life example? I believe that may help us
understand humility better.
Not long ago my children and I watched a television documentary on the
life of Mother Theresa. She was born to a poor family, the youngest of
ten children whose father had died while they were still quite young.
From a very young age she became interested in church life and later became
a Catholic Nun, dedicating her entire life to serving the Lord. While
shut away in a convent near Calcutta teaching at a girl’s school
she heard the cries of the poor and destitute in the streets of the city.
Famine had come to the land and many were literally dying in the streets.
Babies were discarded and left for dead as were many lepers. This nun
who had been shut inside a convent for twenty years heard their cries
and was moved with the compassion of God. She left the convent and beseeched
those in authority to open a home to care for the sick and dying. Her
request was approved and so began the work that would make her world famous.
She took a vow of chastity, purity and poverty when she entered the Lord’s
service and she remained faithful to it. She insisted on living with the
poor, because she said "How else could I relate to them if I am not
living with them". She poured out her life in obedience to her Lord
without thought of herself. When invited to attend international events
she accepted, seeing this as another opportunity to boast on God and beg
for His children in the streets. At these events she was bold and courageous,
not fearing the disapproval of men. She spoke straight from the heart,
God’s heart. Yet through all of the fame and recognition she still
kept her focus on serving those in her care. She tenderly cared for the
dying saying that at this time of their life, when all that remains is
death, they should be treated with love and dignity. She gently ushered
each one into the Kingdom of Heaven while they stood at the very threshold
of eternity. Now there’s an evangelist!
I believe humility is not self abasement or insecurity, which some have
misunderstood it to be. True humility comes from having confidence in
God to do in and through us that which we know we are unqualified to do.
At times we will need to be bold and stand up for what is just and right.
At other times it will require meekness and gentleness to represent the
heart of God to a hurting world. Ultimately we are to be reflections of
Christ. When people see us or our accomplishments, we need to remind them
that what they are really seeing is Jesus, Jesus in us, through us, around
us. It is He who deserves all the credit. I suppose God exalts the humble
because He knows that He can trust them to give Him all the glory. He
gives grace to the humble so they can endure and continue to show Him
to others.
Humility is so contrary to what the world teaches us. The world says "Hey
look at me, look what I can do, see how great I am" A humble servant
of the Lord says " Hey look at God, look what He can do, see how
great He is!" Once again it is all about taking our eyes off ourselves
and fixing them on God. If that is how we think, then that will be how
we live and our testimony will be, "Hey look at what God has done
in my life!"
Does that mean we will always get it right? No way. Not this side of heaven.
All too often I feel Paul’s words echo my own, "For I have the
desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is
not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep
on doing."(Romans 7:18-19). I know it is wrong and yet I fall into
the snare anyway but then I come out knowing just how much I need the
Savior. He is so faithful to forgive us of our wrongdoings when we come
to him in repentance. He keeps me ever mindful of my insufficiency apart
from Him. I can do nothing apart from Him but in Christ I can do all things.
That is the confidence we all, as believers, have. As soon as I think
I’ve got it all together, I brace myself for a fall. Pride always
goes before a fall but God gives grace to the humble. The word of God
says, "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His
way."(Psalm 25:9). Ever wonder why He uses the foolish things of
the world to confound the wise? Because the foolish are wise enough to
give God all the glory. As He is able to trust us, He will exalt us for
His purposes not our own. Be careful of trying to make your own way in
His kingdom, don’t strive for what He will freely give you as you
humble yourself beneath His mighty hand (James 4:10). He has great plans
for every one of us and they all include bringing glory to His name. That’s
the plan. To glorify God on earth, to testify to His great love that many
may be saved!
So if you’ve been feeling a little beat up, or you keep falling into
the same sin, or maybe you think you just can’t get it right, I have
good news for you. You’re right! You can’t get it right only
God can. Once you understand that, humility is within reach! Whatever
your situation God is all you need and He is as close as a prayer. God
is looking for an army of humble soldiers. Sounds like a contradiction
doesn’t it, not for the Kingdom of God. He can do mightier things
with one humble man than He can do with one thousand self reliant men.
Remember where your true strength lies, not in the work of your hands
but in the work of His hand. If He used a small shepherd boy to defeat
a giant, there’s hope for us all!
May you walk in His grace. Thy Kingdom Come!
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