Be Great at Humility
We all know that some people make resolutions around New Year’s often involving exercise, losing weight, and even sometimes around their spiritual life. How many of us made a resolution? In one Peanuts cartoon Charlie Brown says about his New Year’s resolution, “You know how I always dread the whole year? Well, this time I’m only going to dread one day at a time.”
January 5, 2014
Isaiah 57:15, 66:1-2, Be Great at Humility
Doug Scalise, Brewster Baptist Church
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One aspect of life that isn’t a problem for Charlie Brown is humility, Charlie Brown is very humble. I wonder how many people who made New Year’s resolutions made one like this, “I resolve to become more humble in the coming year. I’m going to strive to be really great at humility.” To be humble is to be “Marked by modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.” While humility doesn’t seem to be virtue that is highly desired today, the words “humble” and “humility” appear dozens of times in the Bible because it’s one of the most important personal virtues when it comes to our relationship with God. Augustine who was a very influential theologian in the 4th and early 5th centuries said, “Should you ask me what is the first thing in religion, I should reply that the first, second, and third thing therein is humility.” I want to be clear that “True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.”— Tryon Edwards
Listen to a few verses from the prophet Isaiah that teach about the value of being humble. “For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” “Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.” Isaiah 57:15, 66:1-2
In these verses, Isaiah contrasts the greatness of God and the lowliness of people. God whose greatness is beyond our comprehension promises to be with us when we’re humble, contrite, and we take seriously God’s word. Let’s look at those three things.
Many verses in the Bible speak about God being with the humble rather than with the proud. I thought about illustrating this point using a pitcher of water and a glass, but I didn’t want to make a mess up here. So imagine a pitcher of water and a full glass and what happens when you attempt to pour water into a glass that is already full. What does that look like? What would you do if you saw someone doing that? You’d yell at them to stop and say something like, “Can’t you see that glass is full? You need an empty glass!” In the same way, if we’re full of ourselves we’ll have little or no room for God to come into our life. How full or empty is your glass?
Someone whose glass was empty and represents the quality of humility as well as anyone in the Bible is a young man named Jonathan who was the son of King Saul. Jonathan lived in the second half of the eleventh century B.C and his story is found in 1 Samuel 13-31. We meet him in chapters 13-14 as a young adult and a commander of the army directly under Saul. Though Israel was weak and badly armed at that time, Jonathan provoked war with the Philistines, the people on the coast. This was a bad idea because the Philistines had a monopoly on forged iron so their weapons were better. With the outbreak of hostilities, the Philistines swept over central Palestine. To make matters worse, King Saul came into conflict with Samuel, the prophet who had anointed him king so the situation was looking bleak. Jonathan, who had a lot of courage and trust in God, managed to climb what was considered an impregnable rocky mount and eliminated a Philistine post. The psychological shock of this success brought with it a reversal in the battle. Saul, however, became jealous, and ended up squandering the victory and then made a scapegoat of Jonathan who had severely criticized him. Saul actually wanted to have his son executed; but at the last moment the soldiers intervened to save Jonathan.
Later, as soon as Jonathan saw the military skill of David, he acknowledged him as his peer, cared about him enough that they became best friends, and gave David his own rights to the throne. He demonstrated deep friendship and loyalty to David: twice mediating on his behalf with King Saul to protect his friend against his father’s jealousy. In doing so, Jonathan risked a breach with his own father. When David was forced to flee the royal court, Jonathan made a special pact with David recognizing him as God’s chosen one to lead the nation. In a final battle with the Philistines on Mount Gilboa Jonathan did his duty as a warrior and died together with his father. David honored him as a hero and celebrated his noble character and humble, selfless behavior.
Jonathan was King Saul’s son, he was a prince, he easily could have been prideful, arrogant, selfish, or jealous but he wasn’t. The greatest victory Jonathan ever won was over himself and his own pride when he rejoiced to see David succeeding and advancing above him. He was discerning enough to see God at work in David, and had so learned humility, that he didn’t see in David one who would outshine him, but a man raised up for God and for his people.
While Jonathan illustrates humility very well, his best friend, David, illustrates the need for being contrite which means to be repentant or “deeply sorry for having behaved wrongly.” David especially needed to be contrite after having an affair with Bathsheba, the wife of his loyal officer Uriah, and then ordering the death of Uriah to cover up for his own sin. If someone with sins like David’s can be contrite and confess their sins and repent from them and ask God for forgiveness and receive it, as David does in Psalm 51, then we also have hope that if we humbly and contritely, ask God to forgive our sins and help us turn from them, God will draw near to us and forgive us and delete that file from the folder of our life. Looking back at a year that has past, sometimes there are things we did that we wish we hadn’t done. If that is us, today is a good time, especially when we come to communion, to confess those things and ask God for forgiveness.
Just as humility is not abundant, neither is contrition. Even when people mess up today and their marketing or public relations people tell them they need to issue an apology they often sound less than contrite. I’m skeptical of apologies that include a phrase like, “I’m sorry if anyone was offended by what I said or did.” If you’re issuing an apology than someone was offended so you can drop that part. Those expressions don’t sound as genuine as someone who simply says, “I’m sorry, I messed up, I have no excuse. It was my fault, I am totally responsible.” While our mistakes, failures, and sins may make God feel more distant to us, when we are contrite about them, Isaiah says, God actually draws near to us.
The Lord says through Isaiah, “This is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.” If we want to be great at humility then we’re wise to read, learn, and follow God’s word. Proverbs 22:4 says, “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” The amazing thing is how accessible God’s word is today. If you have a smart phone you can download the Bible App for free (https://www.bible.com/app) and choose from a variety of translations and reading plans. It’s the easiest it’s ever been to read the Bible than any time in history. Like we need food, and plants need watering, our spirit also needs daily and weekly attention. James 1:21 urges us to “welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.” It’s in the Bible that we learn that God leads the humble, teaches the humble (Psalm 25:9), and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). There is a lot to be gained by being led and taught by God and given God’s grace. That makes for a good year.
Even when we seek to learn God’s word and to be led and taught by the Lord, life can still humble us in other ways. Our health can change, our finances can take a turn, the future is never guaranteed and frequently we have to adjust to the unexpected. All these situations can be opportunities to learn humility, reliance on God, and greater trust in God’s word. Jonathan had enough trust in God to risk his life storming a position and to give up his princely rights to another man, how much trust do we have in the Lord?
Where do you find yourself today when it comes to humility, contrition, and being into God’s word? Augustine gave the following advice to people who wanted to get ahead, “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” I think most of us find genuine humility appealing in other people, but arrogance is almost always a turnoff.
The great 16th century reformer of the church Martin Luther said, “God created the world out of nothing, and so long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”
Humility is a virtue that is praised in in virtually every spiritual tradition. A philosopher in another tradition wrote 2,500 years ago: “I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.” Lau Tzu (604-531 BC)
Swallow your pride occasionally, it’s non-fattening. As we begin 2014, I hope we will resolve to be Humble like Jonathan, Contrite like David, and to Take Seriously God’s Word.
Blessing: As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
Questions for Discussion or Reflection:
Why do you think these verses from Isaiah, and so many other passages in the Bible speak about God being with the humble in spirit rather than with the proud?
What is it about being humble or having humility that is an advantage spiritually when it comes to our relationship with God?
Do you find humility in others appealing or a turn off?
If you aren’t trying to become more humble, given all the scriptures say about doing so, why aren’t you?
Are there any ways you are actively seeking to become more humble? Are there strategies, approaches, or attitudes that have helped you in the past?
What is at least one way you can practice humility in the coming week?
Prayer for the New Year by Bill Graham
Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.
We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.
In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.
In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.
In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.
And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).
We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.
Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).
As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.
And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come. Amen