In a dog-eat-dog world, a premium is placed on pride and self-assertion. As Rachel looks for a job, she is encouraged to “brag on herself.” In God’s world, a premium is placed humility. Proverbs 15:33: “The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

          How can we be humble in a haughty world?

 

ACCEPT YOUR OWN VALUE AND POTENTIAL

            “True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us” – Tryon Edwards. Consider the story of Nebuchadnezzar and his dream recorded in Daniel 4. In verses 20-22, Daniel tells the king that God is the one who had given him that position. Nebuchadnezzar should have appreciated the gift and not think that he gave it to himself!

 

PRAY FOR HUMILITY/PROPER SELF-REGARD

            As with all Christian virtues, we need to pray for humility. Then, we need to be prepared for what God will do to teach it to us! Read Deuteronomy 8:2, 16. In the story of Manasseh, he was haughty and God humbled him in a terrible way (2 Chronicles 33). Pray for humility but be prepared for what God may do to teach you!

 

RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS

          Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” It doesn’t hurt us to recognize the achievements and abilities of others. If we want to, we can allow it to motivate us to do better.

 

HAVE A PROPER VIEW OF YOURSELF

          Paul wrote in Romans 12:3: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” We need to remember our own limitations.

 

HAVE A PROPER VIEW OF YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

            We need to remember that our own knowledge and experiences are only a drop in the bucket compared to the entire experiences and knowledge of the human race. So, Paul writes in Colossians 3:12, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”  Someone said: “Many would be scantily clad if clothed in their humility.”

 

–Paul Holland