True Humility

“[He] gives grace to the humble.” 1Pe 5:5 NIV

There are two kinds of humility mentioned in Scripture: (1) False humility. Paul writes, “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility…disqualify you” (Col 2:18 NIV). Whether it’s in your manner of dress, your speech, or your behavior, anything that draws attention to you and away from Christ is displeasing to God. (2) True humility. Truly humble people don’t take offense easily or fight back; they turn the other cheek. And yet their humility is not cowardice, for true humility requires courage. It makes you willing to take a lower place than you deserve, to keep quiet about your merits, and to bear slights, insults, and false accusations for the sake of a higher purpose. True humility doesn’t make you think less of yourself, it just makes you think of yourself less. Peter addresses the subject in these words: “God opposes the proud, but he favors the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1Pe 5:5-6 NLT). The story’s told of a guy who entered a contest to see who was the most humble. When he won, he was given a badge of merit—but then he wore it and was disqualified! Seriously, pride disqualifies you from enjoying the favor of God. That’s why you need to remind yourself regularly: “Everything I am, I owe to God; everything I have, came from God. To Him be all the glory.”

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