Humility
Theme verse
Prov 6:16‑21
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (NIV)
What is it about pride that bothers God so much?
I. Pride
Prov 21:2‑4
2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin! (NIV)
Have you ever deceived yourself to say that something was good when it was not?
How did you get to the point where that took place?
Right In their own eyes
Today we are told that we are gods, and can determine what is right. This is not a new philosophy.
Prov 26:5
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Prov 26:16
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. (NIV)
Prov 28:11
11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him. (NIV)
Judg 21:25
25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (NAS)
Prov 30:11‑14
11 "There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind. (NIV)
Why is doing things that are right in our own eyes destructive?
We should not compare ourselves to others
2 Cor 10:12
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. (NIV)
In what ways are we told in our culture to compare ourselves with ourselves?
Emptiness of boasting
Prov 25:14
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give. (NIV)
Prov 25:27
27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor. (NIV)
Prov 27:1
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. (NIV)
Why is boasting unattractive?
II. Humility
Lowly Spirit brings honor
Prov 18:10‑12
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. (NIV)
Prov 29:23
23 A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
(NIV)
What does humility have to do with honor?
Confess sin
Ps 36:2
2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.
(NIV)
Prov 28:13
13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
(NIV)
We are all in this together
Prov 22:2
2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
Prov 29:13
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both. (NIV)
The importance of humility
Prov 16:18‑20
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. (NIV)
Prov 22:4
4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. (NIV)
Humble toward others
Prov 27:21
21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives. (NIV)
Phil 2:5‑13
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death‑‑ even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed‑‑ not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence‑‑ continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (NIV)
Humble toward God
James 4:6‑10
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double‑minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (NIV)
Humble toward events in life
James 4:14‑17
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.
17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
(NIV)
Humble toward God's word
Ps 119:140‑142
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
141 Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. (NIV)
Humility comes out in so many aspects of life.
What is your overall impression of a humble person?
Results of humility
Nearness to the Lord
Ps 138:6‑8
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. (NIV)
Revives the heart of the lowly
Isa 57:14‑21
14 And it will be said: "Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."
15 For this is what the high and lofty One says‑‑ he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me‑‑ the breath of man that I have created.
How have you seen God revive your heart when you are discouraged?
Humble will be lifted up
Josh 4:13‑14
13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.
14 That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses. (NIV)
Ezek 21:25‑27
25 "'O profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax,
26 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low. (NIV)
1 Cor 1:25‑31
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things‑‑ and the things that are not‑‑ to nullify the things that are,
29 so that no one may boast before him.
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God‑‑ that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (NIV)
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