Humility should be the goal of all who seek to follow Christ. Our culture refuses to acknowledge godly humility as a virtue. The culture pushes to make humility a scourge of the weak and downtrodden. That is because we see humility as a destination. Humility is a lifelong quest that probably never has a destination, but it can find a resting place. We can rest in humility along the journey that is before us. We need not always be in building mode. In our humility we can allow others to thrive and prosper.
The prophet Micah says, “He (God)has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” A life that is well lived involves more than being just and kind. We are to learn to walk humbly with God. Walking humbly with God means several things:
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Understand that God is our creator.
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See him as the source of all blessings that come our way.
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Never try to take his place.
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Live a life of love and not judgement.
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Always think of the needs of the other.
As we strive to reach those goals, we find ourselves moving further away from the world and closer to that humble walk with God. God has sought for you and me to walk humbly with him ever since the fall of Adam. Remember, God walked with Adam in the cool of the evening in the garden. When Adam chose knowledge over walking with God, he was cast out of the Garden. Since that day God has worked on restoring his walks with us.
To walk humbly with God means to walk with him as our God and creator. Humility is a place of rest in the presence of God.
True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
― Rick Warren
As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.
― C.S. Lewis
Talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything.
― Patrick Süskind
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.
― Ernest Hemingway
In the course of my life, I have often had to eat my words, and I must confess that I have always found it a wholesome diet.
― Winston Spencer Churchill
Every person that you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them.
― H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Life is a long lesson in humility.
― J.M. Barrie
True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue.
― Martin Luther
The seeker after truth should be humbler than the dust. The world crushes the dust under its feet, but the seeker after truth should so humble himself that even the dust could crush him. Only then, and not till then, will he have a glimpse of truth.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Until you have suffered much in your heart, you cannot learn humility.
― Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.”
― Thomas à Kempis
There are two things that men should never weary of, goodness and humility; we get none too much of them in this rough world among cold, proud people.
― Robert Louis Stevenson
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
~~~Proverbs 22:4
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’
~~~1 Peter 5:5
When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
but wisdom is with the humble.
~~~Proverbs 11:2
But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says,
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’
~~~James 4:6
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
~~~Micah 6:8
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
~~~ 2 Chronicles 7:14
For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’
~~~ Luke 14:11
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
~~~Philippians 2:3
Towards the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he shows favor.
~~~Proverbs 3:34
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
~~~Psalm 25:9
For thus says the high and lofty one
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
~~~Isaiah 57:15
Lord, Humility allows us to accomplish so much more than we can when we are stuffed to overflowing with pride. As we surrender to the humility of knowing that we are your creation, we can see clearly your love for us. Help me, Lord, to discover my true worth so I may discard my false worth. My false worth is of my own creation and must be laid aside and replaced by my God created worth as shown by the God who walks with me.
Amen
A Pastor's Thoughts 