A proverb goes, "The boughs that bear most hang lowest." Jesus also said whoever humbles himself is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4; 23:11). A humble man has a heart that is like cotton, so he embraces anybody and many people come and rest in him. Let's now look into three aspects of humbleness God recognizes.
POINT 1. A Humble Man Is Modest in His Words
When you exalt another and lower yourself, you are deemed to be humble. A humble man is modest in his words. However, he does not humble himself or exalt another just with words, but he considers others as more important than he is. So he speaks such words as honoring others.
He does not defy or deny the words of another with the standard of his own knowledge. He does not break in when someone is speaking, but listens to what he is speaking to the end. And though the words of the party do not sound right to him, he does not immediately consider them to be wrong.
He does not feel offended but receives it with thanksgiving even when a younger person pointed him out. He also tries to find his fault out and change himself. This kind of heart is a humble heart.
Suppose you were rebuked for your fault. If you are not thankful for it, but instead you harbor ill feelings and complain about the situation, you must realize how arrogant you are.
We should try to make other people comfortable with humble words and say only such words that are good for edification according to the need of the moment. It will then be given as grace to those who hear.
POINT 2. A Humble Man Thoroughly Lowers Himself and Serves in Everything
A humble man does not expect to be served just because he has church titles of respect. A really humble person follows the example of Jesus' service and presses himself more ardently in serving and loving brothers and sisters in faith to the extent that he has greater faith.
Our Lord Jesus is God in the very nature but He emptied Himself and put on the form of a bond-servant. He truly served all men, namely all sinners. He showed a perfect example of service washing the feet of His disciples and giving His life a ransom for all sinners.
Then are we to shrink back saying that we cannot do something because we lack in too many things? Is this an attitude of humbleness in Christ? No, it is not. A truly humble person in the Lord confesses as written in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Such a person becomes active and takes the lead in doing the works of God but does not press them upon others in his own way. He serves and helps others to be faithful with their own eagerness. He does works of God with unity in obedience, service and love, so he can accomplish works of God and give glory to God.
When we thoroughly humble ourselves and serve others, we will not see others' faults or shortcomings. We will be able to understand them. Because we consider others more important than ourselves, we will just want to learn good things from them. Even if they make mistakes, we will just admonish them with love so that they can gain realization of what they did.
POINT 3. A Humble Man Unchangingly Gives Thanks to God
Apostle Paul performed such great and powerful works that he expanded the kingdom of God, yet he was humble all the time. He was able to continually confess his thanks to God and the Lord.
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20).
The reason he always confessed the grace was because he was so humble that he fully denied himself and wanted to glorify the Lord alone. He never forgot the great grace of the Lord who had forgiven him of having persecuted believers in the Lord and the grace by which he was appointed as the apostle to the Gentiles. He never lost the grace so he could be steadfastly faithful to the last moment.
A humble man never forgets thankfulness for the grace he has received and he confesses his gratitude. He shows the deeds of his gratitude in the proper season. He never loses his first love and lives with fullness greater than the first love. He fulfills his duty well and serves everybody with a humble heart.
Let's give thanks for the grace of God in prayer and praise all the time. Let's show our gratitude in the proper time. Thereby we will be able to live forever in the love and blessing of God. "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor" (Proverbs 18:12).
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