The world vs. The Word: Humility

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” – Colossians 3:3

In 2005 one of our preachers at our annual Camp Meeting spoke on the topic: The world vs. The Word.  When you begin to put your mind to the differences between the world and the Word it seems the depth of the subject knows no bounds.  This week, Lord being our help, we hope to explore the value of humility as found in the world and the Word.

When we think of humility, specifically humility before God, and how it is perceived by the world; it becomes clear that the virtue is not long sought after or heavily exalted.  Humility is against human nature.  Oftentimes those who are passive or introverted will be perceived as humble, and contra wise, those who are extroverted and assertive as proud.  Certainly the “A” type personality tends to carry with it the disease of pride, but just because you are quite doesn’t mean you are humble.  Humility is a matter of the heart.  Humility is not the thing that will bring you worldly wealth, power, or prestige.  While appreciated at times, it is not in high demand among popular culture.  In the world, humility before God is questioned, mocked, and scoffed at.  “Why would you commit your life to something unseen?”  “Why would you serve something that you cannot even touch?”  “Why would you go to church to worship Santa Claus?  I mean, that is all that God is.”  The very idea, that we are less than anything else or that there is something unseen outside of our understanding is as much a ridiculous concept as a fairy tale.  Are we so blinded by our own arrogance that we cannot stop to see the value of belief?  What is so attractive about that which is seen that supersedes the unseen?  What assurance is there offered in riches, companionship, or the praise of men?  Are not even our days here on earth fleeting and unsure?  God will teach the humble this and allow us to understand that the only hope we have is hope in Christ!  The world cares for itself and not humility and therefore it cares not for Christ.  Truthfully, were we not same?  “Such were some of you but ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  If you were to offer: talent, power, intelligence, beauty, and humility before a carnal man and ask him to take his pick of one; odds are good, humility would not be his top pick.  As despised humility is to the world, it is just that valuable and more to God.  This is only logical because that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.  So no wonder that what the world rejects, God accepts; no wonder we are called to be pilgrims here but citizens there.  Strangers in the temporal, but known in the eternal.  Aliens in the natural, but adopted in the spiritual.  Humility as in the Word of God is as much a necessity to the Christian life as much as breathing is the natural life.  We must be dead and our life hid with Christ in God.  This is the very definition of it.  Humility abases our purpose and exalts His.  As one brother once beautifully commented on the subject: “humility is water on the clay.” 

A Christian who is consistently laboring towards his own devices, while simultaneously trying to serve God, will be in constant strife.  We must humble ourselves before God and let Him have His way.  It is a matter of yielding, and the proud do not yield.  What makes humility so precious is not what we can gain by having it, but what we can glorify; and that is God, and God alone.  He is worthy, he is holy, and if you will let Him; he will humble the sinner before himself so that you can give your heart to Him and serve Him in reverence and godly fear.  In closing, humility, will allow you to understand that in serving Him you have complete liberty.