Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-10
We are continuing our study on the Character of a Godly Man.
True biblical humility is absolutely counter-intuitive to everything the world will throw at you to tell you how to get what you want out of life. However, an honest look at who we are and who God is leaves absolutely no room for human pride. As Romans 12:3 says, we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but think as to have sound judgment.
Pride is where the heart elevates itself over another person, or a people group. This tendency is natural to the human heart and must be slain daily as we cultivate true humility.
The church is where humility should reign. It is here that we witness and are taught the grace of God, which confronts and demolishes human boasting. It is here that we find all of us equal at the foot of the cross. And yet, the church seems to be rife with pride and boasting.
Paul admonishes the Corinthian church that their pride was dismantling the unity in the body of Christ, and his reminder is that all of us are merely men. Servants. Slaves of our Master. (1 Corinthians 3:1-7)
The only way to truly serve the church is in humility. As we serve, we should do so without any expectation of favors returned, or even thanks. To cultivate this level of humility, we offer our best work as a privilege to serve and model Jesus Christ, in whose footsteps we walk. Remember, He ‘did not come to be served, but to serve’ (Matt 20:28).
1 – Understand that the attitude of Humility brings unity (Eph 4:1-3
- What promotes unity?
- Humility
- Gentleness
- Patience
- Tolerance (forbearance in love)
- Be diligent to grow in these characteristics
- We are not our own, we are slaves of Christ (2 Cor 4:5, 5:15)
- Understand what true humility is
- Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less (He must increase, I must decrease)
- The opposite of self-awareness and self-promotion
- Regarding others as more important than ourselves (Phil 2:1-8)
- Everyone around you is an opportunity for service
- Be lost in the needs of others (1 John 3:16-18)
- Walk alongside them, bear their burdens, serve regardless of social strata and personal differences
- Understand why humility is so important
- Men are called to lead their families
- Men are to lead the church (1 Peter 5:3)
- Young men are to be subject to elders
- Everyone is called to humility (1 Peter 5:5)
- Nobody is excluded
- It exhibits trust in God
- It is seen in thankfulness
- The absence of humility is pride and God hates pride
- Understand true humility comes from a right view of God and self (Ps 8)
- We should have no sense of personal significance
- Before God’s glory, all sense of personal greatness is eradicated
- Our only significance comes from how well we reflect Christ
- Keep thinking on the character of God, this produces humility
- Manifestations of humility
- submission to God’s will
- sensitivity to others
- slow to anger; a willingness to wait
- perseverance in doing right
- not pushy
- trusting God’s promises
- trusting God’s Sovereignty
- loving without expectations
- thankfulness
- Manifestations of pride
- hostility toward others
- harsh responses when expectations aren’t met
- the fear of man
- self-dependence
- anxiety
- jealousy
- insisting on having your own way
- refusal to wait
- not suffering under the purposes of God
If you want God’s favour, cultivate humility because it draws God’ gaze (Isaiah 66:2) and crush pride because it brings God’s swift hand (Dan 4, 1 Peter 5:5).
Men of the Word 