“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” – Colossians 3:3
This week, Lord being our help, I hope to
explore the value of humility as found in the world and the Word. Making the case for humility.
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. However,
just because you are quiet 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 concept that
we are less than something which is unseen is completely outside of our carnal understanding. It’s 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 the seen that supersedes the unseen? What assurance is there offered in riches,
companionship, or praise of men? Are not
even our days here on earth fleeting and limited? 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 the 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. Humility is despised by the world, but it is valuable
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 breathing
is in the natural life. Humility bases
our purpose and exalts His. In this
sense we are dead (to our own way), and our life is hidden with Christ in God.
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 who we can glorify. God, and God alone. He is worthy, he is holy, and if you will let
Him; he will humble the sinner, edify the saint, and revive the church.
