Would you kindly make me understand the word humility?
That’s an important question because Proverbs 15:33 tells us that, “…before honour is humility.” Humility is defined as ‘modesty, gentleness, meekness.’ In a practical sense, humility is the opposite of pride, and according to Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Society would tell us that humble people go unnoticed and are not successful. They say we should be proud of ourselves and our accomplishments. Is that right? As Christians do we have a right to be proud of ourselves? What are we other than vile sinners who have been saved by the wonderful grace of God? 1 Peter 5:5 says, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, AND GIVETH GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” James 4:10, “HUMBLE YOURSELVES in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Scripture tells us that it is our responsibility to be humble. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” We should quietly submit ourselves to the Word and will of the Lord and allow Him to lead us without the interference of our own will. It is when we humble ourselves that the Lord will exalt us when the time is right. It is easier to be humble when we realize the source of our strength is the Lord Himself. The desire to do the Lord’s will also comes from the Lord. Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
We had to humble ourselves to be saved. Matthew 18:4, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” True humility will cause us to realize that we need salvation and we cannot save ourselves. It is when we reach out to the Lord in faith, realizing that He is the only way of salvation that we can be saved. We also have to keep ourselves humble as believers so that we might be able to truly serve the Lord. Acts 20:19 speaks of “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind…”
One word of caution for us all. If we refuse to humble ourselves, the Lord will eventually do it for us. Matthew 23:12 says, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” We read in Isaiah 14:13-15 that it was pride that caused the downfall of Lucifer. We read in Genesis 3:6 that it was pride that caused Adam and Eve to disobey the Lord in the Garden of Eden. We are warned in Obadiah 4, “Though thou EXALT THYSELF as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.” Proverbs 16:19 says, “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” (211.8)