Humility
Hebrew – submit self, modesty, gentleness, meekness, needy, poor, bow down,
in homage to royalty or God, do reverence, make worship.
Greek modesty, lowly,
A freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have and
are, comes from God. The Greek philosophers despised humility because to
them it implied inadequacy, lack of dignity, and worthlessness.
This is not the meaning of humility as defined by the Bible. Jesus is the
supreme example of humility and He is completely adequate and of infinite
dignity and worth.
Matt 11:29 For I am meek and lowly in heart;
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve…
John 13:4-17 Verily, verily, I say to you, the servant in not greater than his
lord…
Phil 2:5-8 But made Himself of no reputation…
Biblical humility is not a belittling of oneself,
Matt 6:16-18 Don’t ask like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces.
Rom 12:3 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.
But it is an exalting or praising of others, especially God and Christ.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease
Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of
mind. Let each esteem other better than themselves.
Humble people focus more on God and others than on themselves.
Biblical humility is also recognizing that by ourselves we are inadequate, without
dignity and worthless. Yet, because we are created in God’s image and because
believers are in Christ, we have infinite worth and dignity
I Cor. 4:6-7 and what have you that you did not receive.
I Pet 1:18-19 Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with
corruptible things…
True humility does not produce pride, but gratitude. Since God is both our
Creator and Redeemer, our existence and righteousness depend on Him
John 15:5 For without Me, you can do nothing.
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to
think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’
s device.
Eph 2:8-10 For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Therefore we humble selves under the Mighty hand of God…