A hint of humility

[Guest gover]

Edited June 11, 2004 by gover

[Guest shadow2b]

-YUP!!!!

In His Love,

Bro John

- --Short--Sweet-concise--exact--Right-on-

{IN very best Gary-Cooper-voice-YUPP-& smile when ya say that pardnuh :oww:

- }

[Guest wareguy]

Sometimes I act with humility, but by the grace of God.

lol, cool one gover.

Edited June 11, 2004 by wareguy

[barracuda]

I would not be qualified enough to take on a leadership role, or to run a company, or get involved in the business of government or local leadership.

I learned this, this past Sunday. Saying what you said above is pride (opposite of humility), know why? Because by saying that, your saying that it is in your own power that you do things. By saying I can't your saying that God has to rely on you and that is pride. Just adding another perspective to this.

I am saying you and stuff, but I am not directing this towards you, just in general.

This makes no sense to me whatsoever. Being prideful has to do with self-esteem. The dictionary says that being prideful is "delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship".

How can my realization of the limitations God has given me be contrued as being delightful or elated?

I see pride as somewhat arrogant and boastful of one self. I don't see pride as saying I am limited to certain capacities in life.

Humility is when you do not take credit for anything you have ever done. Being humble means you allow others to take the credit for things you might have accomplished. Humility has to to with taking yourself out of the spotlight and allowing others the benefit of your endeavors.

But admitting that God has given me limitations is prideful? Give me a break. I don't agree with this point of view whatsoever.

[IslandRose]

I think humility is one of those elusive qualities that we all wish to exhibit. But the truth is, once we realize we have finally achieved it, we lose it. We become humble when we do what we do only to bring glory to God or to help others. When we start thinking about all the things we are doing to bring glory to God or helping other (ie. start listing them out in our heads) we have lost the humility. We are instead once again focusing on ourselves.

We have one lady in our church who is always telling us how humble she is. She is, in fact, proud of her humility. :oww:

I believe that true humility is not recognized by our own self, but rather, it is seen in us by others.

:il:

[Ovedya]

Humility is being obedient to God to do what He has commaneded us to do without pretense and without directing attention to these works towards one's self. It is carrying out God's commission in a normal way without focussing emphasis on one's own abilities, but towards God, who has blessed us with the way to accomplish His goals through our human virtues.

To be humble is to not exalt one's self in any manner whatsoever, but rather glorifying God. Therefore when someone says, "My what a wonderful thing you have done...what a wonderful way you have of speaking..." you do not take credit, but acknowledge that the Lord has done this through you.

If the Lord has given you the ability to speak His word or to carry out His commission in some other fashion (Such as prophesying, teaching up, or even something as simple as hospitality) it is solely for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ. We, as vessels who contain the Lord, and who flow Him out to others, do not glory in our ability to carry out His commission. To state bodly, "The Lord has given me the gift of...Therefore, I am..." is still somewhat of a prideful statement. It is not wrong to understand how the Lord has blessed you to carry out His work on the earth. But it is another thing to emphasis that certain gift in a way that brings attention to yourself rather than to God. Even bringing attention to the gift itself can often distract from what the Lord is doing in His economy. Thus, we need to have a view to God's economy rather than to the specific funtions by which He carries it out.

A humble man is often not well spoken of. He is often not even seen or noticed in the church; not because he has chosen to be invisible, but because he understands that to function in the church in a normal way does not require public acknowledgment of his works, or his ability.

That's my definition of humility.

[Guest marilou]

Col. 3:12 says "put on humility". I Peter 5:5 says "put on humility". There are several scriptures that say "He who humbles himself will be exalted; He who exalts himself will be humbled" (see Matt. 23:12; Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14 James 4:10) Micah 6:8 says "He has showed you, oh man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly and to love kindness and mercy and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God."

When the Lord says "put on" something that He "requires" of you, then it must be within our power to put it on, right? It is a choice we need to make experience by experience. Sometimes you humble yourself by submitting to those in authority over you. Sometims you humble yourself by listening to others instead of having to be the one to speak.... considering others as more important than yourself. Sometimes you humble yourself by apologizing first. I Pet. 5:6, 7 says, "Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.(how?by)..casting all your cares (worries) on Him for He cares for you affectionately and watchfully."

If humility is a choice and you can decide to put it on, then you must be able to be aware of what you are choosing to "put on" if you look into the mirror of God's Word. Moses, in Num 12:3 wrote "The man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth." Jesus spoke of Himself in Matt. 11:28-30 "Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me. for I am gentle and HUMBLE in heart and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 2:5). What does this "mind" refer to: "{Jesus} humbled Himself" (Phil. 2:8). Even though He was God, He agreed to take on and live His life on earth through a human nature, even going so far as to die a human death on the cross. Humility was at the core of Jesus' life and ministry, and we must have this same mind-set if we are going to be everything God wants us to be. Get into the Word of God -- see what that says and agree with and get your life in line with that because "His ways and thoughts are much higher than man's ways and thoughts." (Isa. 55:9).