Jacob
2006-06-26 02:48:44 UTC
Many times it is pride that makes us do things wrong, in relation to
God and to people. We act as though we are someone special with God and
take liberties with His commandments. We deal with other people as
though we are superior, without caring about how it would affect them
and how they would feel. It is humility that can change this type of
attitude and behaviour.
God provides things which are needed for earthly life even to wicked
people (Mt.5:45). But life changing blessings can come from God only
when we are humble, because God opposes the proud and gives grace only
to the humble (Jas.4:6).
Being humble is not the same as doing humble things. For example, we
can say, "I am sorry," because that is the socially acceptable thing to
do. But it may be just an act we put on. Or we may do something
'humble' such as sweeping the floor when other people are watching. But
humility is an attitude of our heart. It is seen basically in what we
think about ourselves in secret, and then it also decides how we behave
on the outside.
I would suggest that there are three things we could address towards
growing in humility. Becoming humble takes time, and we need to grow in
it all our life.
Think about where we have come from. If we have been born again, we
have been brought from sin to life, from being a child of Satan to
being a child of God, from despair to hope, from purposeless drifting
to a goal driven life, from confusion and chaos to peace and rest, etc.
Who has done this? Not we, but the grace of God.
Think of what we are. Do we think that what we have today such as
money, position, reputation, skills, etc., is from our own making? No.
Acknowledge God (1Co.4:7). On the other hand, if we are conscious of
our lacks in these areas, can't we think of what gives us true worth -
our acceptance by God?
Think of our dependence on God. Our life on earth is so uncertain in
many respects. The only thing we can be certain of is our death, if
Jesus does not come before that. We are dependent on God for every part
of our life.
Think over these things frequently. Take time to do that. Do you see
that humility is essentially to acknowledge God in every part of our
life?
http://www.c-n-c.org
God and to people. We act as though we are someone special with God and
take liberties with His commandments. We deal with other people as
though we are superior, without caring about how it would affect them
and how they would feel. It is humility that can change this type of
attitude and behaviour.
God provides things which are needed for earthly life even to wicked
people (Mt.5:45). But life changing blessings can come from God only
when we are humble, because God opposes the proud and gives grace only
to the humble (Jas.4:6).
Being humble is not the same as doing humble things. For example, we
can say, "I am sorry," because that is the socially acceptable thing to
do. But it may be just an act we put on. Or we may do something
'humble' such as sweeping the floor when other people are watching. But
humility is an attitude of our heart. It is seen basically in what we
think about ourselves in secret, and then it also decides how we behave
on the outside.
I would suggest that there are three things we could address towards
growing in humility. Becoming humble takes time, and we need to grow in
it all our life.
Think about where we have come from. If we have been born again, we
have been brought from sin to life, from being a child of Satan to
being a child of God, from despair to hope, from purposeless drifting
to a goal driven life, from confusion and chaos to peace and rest, etc.
Who has done this? Not we, but the grace of God.
Think of what we are. Do we think that what we have today such as
money, position, reputation, skills, etc., is from our own making? No.
Acknowledge God (1Co.4:7). On the other hand, if we are conscious of
our lacks in these areas, can't we think of what gives us true worth -
our acceptance by God?
Think of our dependence on God. Our life on earth is so uncertain in
many respects. The only thing we can be certain of is our death, if
Jesus does not come before that. We are dependent on God for every part
of our life.
Think over these things frequently. Take time to do that. Do you see
that humility is essentially to acknowledge God in every part of our
life?
http://www.c-n-c.org