"WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HUMILITY"

The Bible says that humility is part of the spiritual clothing that every christian must wear (1 Peter 5:5; Colossians 3:12; Micah 6:8). In James 4:6,10, the Bible says, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." {10} "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." The christian must humble himself/herself because Christ was also humble (Philippians 2:8).

The Bible says in Mark 10:31 that, "...many who are first will be last, and the last first." This statement is a warning against arrogance and conceit. Paul says that in the last dispensation of time that people will become, "lovers of themselves... boasters ... proud ... haughty..." (2 Timothy 3:1-5). This kind of attitude about self is condemned in many places in scripture (Romans 12:3). In Proverbs 16:18, the Bible says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Regrettably, far too many people will learn this lesson too late in life.

The Bible says that humility brings honor (Proverbs 15:33). The person who humbles himself will be exalted by God (Luke 14:11). God will not forget the humble person but will take care of that person and reward him (Psalm 10:12).

In Philippians 2:3, the Bible says, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." There is no excuse for any christian to indulge themselves in arrogance or conceit. To keep from this we should remind ourselves regularly of how dependent we are upon God. The Bible reminds us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;, for without Me you can do nothing," (John 15:5).

In Galatians 6:3, the Bible says, "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." If we walk humbly with God and do His will the genuine humility we practice here will be rewarded with an everlasting crown of glory (Revelation 2:10).

David Decker              

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