What role does humility play in your walk?

[David from New Bern]

Perhaps we give lips service alone to the issue of humbleness in the church. My question is multifaceted and probably to broad to be covered exhaustively but I think it is worthwhile to converse about and see what we can discover from one another and from the Holy Spirit. What role does humbleness play in our sanctification? Our ability to understand doctrine? Operate in our giftedness? Discussing Biblical truths in which there are differences across the spectrum of Christianity? doing church? participating in apologetics (defending the faith)? reconciliation?...etc... What is the difference between confidence and pride, is it vague or pretty easy to define? What happens when a person displays arrogance or is self-defensive or braggadocious under the disguise of Christian service?

[tah]

That is a big question..but my fist thought came from a post I read this morning..

they were talking about Adam and Eve and how they passed the buck so to speak when they sinned and Adam blamed the woman and the woman blamed the snake..

When in fact the blame lay squarely on their shoulders for sinning against the word of God that said "Do not"..

They would not humble themselves and take the blame for it they had to blame "someone" else....

Confidence is hearing God and knowing what He has said..and standing on it without fear ...

Pride is a swelling up inside us that "I know"....when that gets tested there is not the quietness of spirit that comes with confidence...

I have to be careful of this because when I feel pride welling up in me it is a warning that I am in the wrong territory and going in the wrong direction...

Well, I tell you what happens to me when I move in pride and arrogance...

God disciplines me by letting me humiliate myself so I will think hard about doing it again..

and sometimes He speaks quietly to my heart and lets me be the only one to know I was acting the fool...

I guess it all depends on how entrenched I am in my attitude and what I need to get out of it..

God is faithful to help us stay on the straight and narrow...

Well He sure tries...

Was that the kind of answer you were looking for?

[Times]

Perhaps we give lips service alone to the issue of humbleness in the church. My question is multifaceted and probably to broad to be covered exhaustively but I think it is worthwhile to converse about and see what we can discover from one another and from the Holy Spirit. What role does humbleness play in our sanctification? Our ability to understand doctrine? Operate in our giftedness? Discussing Biblical truths in which there are differences across the spectrum of Christianity? doing church? participating in apologetics (defending the faith)? reconciliation?...etc... What is the difference between confidence and pride, is it vague or pretty easy to define? What happens when a person displays arrogance or is self-defensive or braggadocious under the disguise of Christian service?

we are here to serve. We are to "take up our cross and follow Jesus." Put ourselves aside. In everything we do we should not put "self" first. Pride is putting self in the forefront. Humbleness is putting self in the rear so to speak. We have confidence in our salvation, and we should share that confidence, but with humility. Pride tends to put self in the forefront. Crucify pride in your life and let the love of God be in the forefront.

[David from New Bern]

That is a big question..but my fist thought came from a post I read this morning..

they were talking about Adam and Eve and how they passed the buck so to speak when they sinned and Adam blamed the woman and the woman blamed the snake..

When in fact the blame lay squarely on their shoulders for sinning against the word of God that said "Do not"..

They would not humble themselves and take the blame for it they had to blame "someone" else....

Confidence is hearing God and knowing what He has said..and standing on it without fear ...

Pride is a swelling up inside us that "I know"....when that gets tested there is not the quietness of spirit that comes with confidence...

I have to be careful of this because when I feel pride welling up in me it is a warning that I am in the wrong territory and going in the wrong direction...

Well, I tell you what happens to me when I move in pride and arrogance...

God disciplines me by letting me humiliate myself so I will think hard about doing it again..

and sometimes He speaks quietly to my heart and lets me be the only one to know I was acting the fool...

I guess it all depends on how entrenched I am in my attitude and what I need to get out of it..

God is faithful to help us stay on the straight and narrow...

Well He sure tries...

Was that the kind of answer you were looking for?

Certainly a good post...as I said this is a very broad subject and you certainly addressed things related to the subject. The comments now reflect some of my thinking that led to the OP...In church life and even here on Worthy Boards there are some very talented and gifted people. There are some high IQ and very knowledgeable people...and as my mother would say, "and they know it!" But, who would they be if they didn't have that confidence. Yet, we are told that human pride is the enemy...I have had some pretty detailed discussions with people about Biblical interpretation and it seems that ego prevents productive conversation or even the admission that personal beliefs are suspect. I have had musicians and singers and public speakers who perform beautifully, but you have a hard time tolerating the ego that goes with it. I deal with people daily who are professing Christians who cannot admit they are wrong and thus their walk stagnates. While, my Baptist leaning will show through on the next comment. The majority of Christians visit the altar on the day of their salvation and never return. Tah, this is what I would like to see us unpack in this thread. I believe the Lord will inspire some good productive post that will minister and open up some closets of discovery.

[tah]

Let me add another little note here..I was talking with my son about this and he told me the way he sees it is ..

"Both pride and humility tie into confidence..

Pride is confidence without humility ...

and Humility is confidence without pride."

I thought that deserved being posted..

[Guest jckduboise]

A perfect example of how pride can cause problems for the proud...

I have been a Christian for a while and yet it took a while for me to believe that the Lord actually did give me salvation, is truly my Father and I am completely protected in Him.

Well a few years ago I had to go back and forth to court because of a custody battle. I was early in recovery and had about 6 months clean. In a nut shell I felt I had my @#$% together..So I put together all of these declarations to the court telling not just my past but also my present. I didn't want to come off as a liar. I didn't want my ex to pull any punches or bring up anything the court was not aware of.

Well before these court hearings I would pray..please God just let the judge see the truth and keep me protected so that Michael cannot harm me. But when I walked in I would use proud words, I would give glaring stares in the direction of my ex and I would think to myself I am gonna win because I got God on my side. Each time the judge was harder on me. Even though I was doing all I was required of by the state to show I was getting right. Well the last time in court which by the way was the 17th appearance in about 10 months the judge looked at me and told me to knock it off that I wasn't all that I thought I was and that even though I had done the things to get right I was no where near proving to her that I had what it took to care for my daughter properly.

I gotta tell you I was crushed. Everything I had worked for just flew out the window. I wanted to just give up.

Well it turned out that the Lord took those situations and turned them to good. He showed me that pride in MY actions was sinful at its best and that I needed to truly rely on him instead of using Him as a way of being boastful..you know..God's on my side so take that..but God said no he's not gonna take that you are you snotty little brat..and I deserved that discipline. I needed to know that God does not fight a battle that way. Jesus was never proud or boastful and I needed to know that I was not given the authority to be that way either.

It took years for me to finally stop being that way with my ex and it is very difficult not to fall back into it.

I do thank God for loving me enough to discipline me, however.

[mld_2008]

I had always wondering that, but during my reading of The Purpose Driven Life, By Rick Warren... if people aren't famarliar with that its a book that has a reading for you each day, an through out it, it helps you realize "what on earth are you here for " and to help with your walk with God...... in one of the daily readings it was talking about the difference of that.. i can't find it right now... what it says exactly.....(sorry)

Good book though, answers alot of questions... Easy read, enjoyable for people that really don't like to read also!

[mike2]

I share the thoughts that tah has expressed.

In addition;

Confidence in ourselves is pride.

Confidence in what God has given us, our salvation, his Spirit and guidance, not only comes from the humility of knowing we cannot do those things ourselves, but also knowing that it is His Spirit that inspires, directs and brings to fruition all the good things in our lives.

I believe that the more recognition we recieve for our works, the more we are tempted by the desires of this world.

It goes without saying that the more prominent a position a person may have, the more difficult it may be to remain humble.

Is there is a distinction between being proud in your WORK and being proud in your WORKS

As for displaying arrogance, being self- defensive or braggadocious, I've always considered it a sign of insecurity.

In a good, loving Christian atmosphere , where there is communication, it can be addressed.

Its a different story in the atmosphere of, say, the arts, where any sign of "weekness" is quickly exploited.

One of the hardest things any of us face, is saying to someone, "I dont know".

David has said,..'the majority of Christians come to the alter on the day of salvation and never return again',

For some reason those people haven't found an environment where they can let their guard down, a guard, they have spent a lifetime learning to use in the world.

It is so so so important that we have an environment that we can say "I dont know", an environment where we can let our humbleness show and become comfortable with it.

That is an environment where the people that are "teaching " are not percieved as smarter or better, but as humble servants.

Something that is completely backwards to everything we have learned in the world.

Something that is completely and totally in line with what Jesus has taught us.

Without humility it is impossible for us to really develope as Christians.

Humility is something we all have, but we have to learn to let it show, and be confident that in letting it show, the Lord will use it.

I have, in some situations, even though I thought I new it all, purposely taken the position of humility, of not knowing, of being unsure, and God has taught me things I never would have learned otherwise (how humiliating, hm tah).

[mike2]

A perfect example of how pride can cause problems for the proud...

I have been a Christian for a while and yet it took a while for me to believe that the Lord actually did give me salvation, is truly my Father and I am completely protected in Him.

Well a few years ago I had to go back and forth to court because of a custody battle. I was early in recovery and had about 6 months clean. In a nut shell I felt I had my @#$% together..So I put together all of these declarations to the court telling not just my past but also my present. I didn't want to come off as a liar. I didn't want my ex to pull any punches or bring up anything the court was not aware of.

Well before these court hearings I would pray..please God just let the judge see the truth and keep me protected so that Michael cannot harm me. But when I walked in I would use proud words, I would give glaring stares in the direction of my ex and I would think to myself I am gonna win because I got God on my side. Each time the judge was harder on me. Even though I was doing all I was required of by the state to show I was getting right. Well the last time in court which by the way was the 17th appearance in about 10 months the judge looked at me and told me to knock it off that I wasn't all that I thought I was and that even though I had done the things to get right I was no where near proving to her that I had what it took to care for my daughter properly.

I gotta tell you I was crushed. Everything I had worked for just flew out the window. I wanted to just give up.

Well it turned out that the Lord took those situations and turned them to good. He showed me that pride in MY actions was sinful at its best and that I needed to truly rely on him instead of using Him as a way of being boastful..you know..God's on my side so take that..but God said no he's not gonna take that you are you snotty little brat..and I deserved that discipline. I needed to know that God does not fight a battle that way. Jesus was never proud or boastful and I needed to know that I was not given the authority to be that way either.

It took years for me to finally stop being that way with my ex and it is very difficult not to fall back into it.

I do thank God for loving me enough to discipline me, however.

God bless you

mike2

[David from New Bern]

Let me add another little note here..I was talking with my son about this and he told me the way he sees it is ..

"Both pride and humility tie into confidence..

Pride is confidence without humility ...

and Humility is confidence without pride."

I thought that deserved being posted..

Tell your son, there is wisdom in that statement...If he coined that phrase he needs to publish it.