Humility

Two other major themes you will find in Proverbs are humility and pride.

But before we go much further, how many of you would say that there were times that PRIDE got the best of you and if you can turn back the hands of time, you wish that HUMILITY would have won in that moment?

Second question; (Just think to yourselves) On a scale of 1-10, (10 being the worst), how much damage, hurt, and pain did that burst of PRIDE cause?

Third question; Wouldn’t it be nice to just spend the next few moments in God’s Word to find help and strength to overcome any future moments when PRIDE will try to get the best of us?

A Quick Look at the Difference Both Humility and Pride Cause in One’s Life;

HUMILITY Leads to wisdom;

PRIDE Ends in shame

(Proverbs 11:2), “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.”

HUMILITY Takes advice;

PRIDE Leads to arguments

(Proverbs 13:10), “By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.”

HUMILITY Brings honor;

PRIDE Does not bring honor

(Proverbs 15:33), “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.”

HUMILITY Not an abomination;

PRIDE An abomination to the Lord

(Proverbs 16:5), “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.”

HUMILITY Does not destroy;

PRIDE Leads to destruction

(Proverbs 16:18), “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Examples of Both the Humble and the Proud

• Lucifer

(Isaiah 14:12-15), “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!   For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

The lesson learned here is that if you choose pride, you will not win against God. So why choose it?!

• Naaman

He was a Syrian captain and conqueror of Israel who was plagued with leprosy.  He was sent to the Hebrew prophet, Elisha by his little Hebrew handmaid.

(2 Kings 5:9-15), “Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”

At first, Naaman chose pride, but ultimately, he chose humility.

The lesson learned here is that God’s blessings are NOT found in pride, but rather, God’s blessing is found and obtained in humility.

• Canaanite woman

(Matthew 15:21-28), “Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

WOW! What a powerful example of humility. Jesus was not trying to be insulting to the woman and belittle the importance of her situation. What He was doing is, teaching His disciples what true faith in Him really was. And at the same time, we see one of the greatest examples of humility in God’s Word.

The lesson learned here is, if you want to see God’s miraculous power unleashed in your life, you will only find it in true saving faith and humility.

It does not do us any good to let pride control our situations. As we look back, we see that pride has never helped us, but rather made things worse. In some cases, we have not yet recovered completely from its results. Let’s learn from these examples in God’s Word along with our past and let humility always have its proper place as we trust God to be the judge over all our matters.