Humility Comes Before Honor

                                             "Before honor comes humility."
                                                        Proverbs 15:33b




It has been said that humility is the highest form of grace a believer can possess.  That is because God, Himself, "gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).  It is more important to our Heavenly Father to mold Christ-like character within us than anything we could ever accomplish or achieve without it.  Our character will establish the trajectory of our giftings and influence.

In the Bible, God emphasizes humility more than any other character trait, with the exception of love.  And yet, there is rarely a sermon given about it.  Ironically, it is probably the most important indicator of how far we will go in this Christian journey.

Humility is powerful.  In the fourteenth chapter of the gospel of Luke (vv. 8-11), Jesus explains to us that humility is the path to promotion.  He concludes by telling us that "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11).

It is through humility and abiding in Christ that we will bear much fruit (John 12:24-25).  When we release ourselves fully to God, we are transformed and His life begins to flow through us.  As we focus on Him, the Holy Spirit manifests Himself to meet the needs of those around us.

The struggle comes to us when we vascillate between pride and humility.  The true struggle is one of focus.  If the focus is ourselves, either positively or negatively, it will quickly lead us to a place of pride. Thankfully, we do have the power to choose our focus.

An accurate, honest evaluation of ourselves comes when we use faith as the measuring stick of where we are.  Consider what the book of Romans tells us. It says, "Don't think you are better than you really are.  Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" (Romans 12:3).

When we see ourselves as God sees us, and define ourselves as God defines us, it will provide the ultimate system of checks and balances.  This assessment will keep our egos in check and also enable us to grow in confidence in who we are created to be.  This is the confidence that will enable us to know God and make Him known.

In Jesus, we find the ultimate example of humility.  The book of Philippians tells us, "Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example of selfless humility], who, although He existed in the form and unchanging existence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes- the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself  [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].  After He was found in [terms of His]  outward appearance as a man [for a divinely appointed time] , He humbled Himself by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even on a cross.  For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11).

Jesus reveals to us a powerful correlation: to the degree in which we humble ourselves will be the degree to which God can exalt us.  This is the measure of how much God can trust us with power and influence.  It is a standard of our Christ-centeredness and faithfulness to God.

The indicators of humility are as follows:

                                   *ability to bow before God
                                   *teachable spirit
                                   *seeks and grants forgiveness
                                   *genuineness and authenticity
                                   *gratefulness
                                   *serves others
                                   *godly sorrow (over sins)
                                   *brings people together
                                   *broken self-will
                                   *deep relationship with God
                                   *vessel in which the Holy Spirit flows

Pride is the antithesis of humility.  Indicators of pride are:

                                   *talks more than listens
                                   *unwilling to be accountable
                                   *unwilling to receive correction
                                   *defensive
                                   *stubborn, rebellious
                                   *argumentative and contentious
                                   *legalistic
                                   *judgmental
                                   *prayerlessness
                                   *striving for a certain appearance
                                   *not willing to serve in menial tasks
                                   *vain

Scripture tells us that God resists the proud.  Dwight L. Moody, a nineteenth century evangelist said, "God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves."  God resists pride because it will bring shame and ultimately, pride will destroy us.

It is God's desire to redeem and restore us.  His Word promises blessings for those who are humble.  The blessings include: God will fight for us and defend us (Numbers 12:1-8), God will give us grace (Proverbs 3:34), God will give us the kingdom (Matthew 5:3), God will dwell with us (Isaiah 57:15), and the humble will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

As we are clothed in humility, we will grow: in our relationships, in wisdom, in truthfulness, in trustworthiness, in dependability, and in genuineness.  We are wrapped in our garment and it is displayed through our conduct and conversation.  This royal robe inevitably will attract dignity, respect, and esteem.  There is no honor higher than that which comes from the Lord!


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time."
                                                                                                                               (1 Peter 5:6)