humility is directed to god, not man
08-22-2022
fix your eyes on the king
We have a misconception of what humility is because we, in our human minds, think humility has to do with you and another affected party. This is incorrect!
True humility recognizes the sovereignty of God and Jesus Christ, who is our King of Kings and Lord of lord’s. Therefore, when we humble ourselves. It is not about your spouse, your parent, your friend, your judge, etc. — moreover, you are showing humility before your God in Heaven who has called you to a humble spirit. Change your focus.
Humility is giving into the will of God. Not giving into the will of man.
Boaz Speaks with Ruth - ruth 2:1-16
8 Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go in any other field to gather grain, and don’t even leave this one. Stay here with my young women. 9 Watch where my men are reaping, and follow the young women in that field. I have ordered my young men not to touch you. When you’re thirsty, go to the jars and drink some of the water that the young men have drawn.” 10 Ruth immediately bowed down to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so helpful? Why are you paying attention to me? I’m only a foreigner.” 11 Boaz answered her, “People have told me about everything you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband died. They told me how you left your father and mother and the country where you were born. They also told me how you came to people that you didn’t know before. 12 May the Lord reward you for what you have done! May you receive a rich reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose protection you have come for shelter.”
13 Ruth replied, “Sir, may your kindness to me continue. You have comforted me and reassured me, and I’m not even one of your own servants.”
14 When it was time to eat, Boaz told her, “Come here. Have some bread, and dip it into the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he handed her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his servants, “Let her gather grain even among the bundles. Don’t give her any problems. 16 Even pull some grain out of the bundles and leave it for her to gather. Don’t give her a hard time about it.”
God Gives Grace to the Humble
Humility is a character quality that is of supreme value in the eyes of God. The Bible tells us that the Lord blesses, honors, and favors those who are genuinely humble. Because the inverse of humility is pride and as we also see in scripture, God is at war with pride and arrogance (i.e. Satan is the epitome of pride along with another reference to the King of Tyre, Ezekiel 28)
James 4:6-7 - And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:10 - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
1 Peter 5:5 - In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Psalm 25:9 - He [the Lord] leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Psalm 149:4 - For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33 - Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 18:12 - Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4 - Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Isaiah 66:2 - My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.