Episode 33: False Humiliation
The Bible Teaches Us to Be Humble
- James 4:6: But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
- James 4:10: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
- Matthew 23:12: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- Matthew 18:4: Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 18:14: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 1:52: he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
- Philippians 2: 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- 1 Peter 5: 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
- Psalm 18:27: For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
- Psalm 25:9: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
- Proverbs 3:34: Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
- Proverbs 11:2: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
- Proverbs 15:33: The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
- Philippians 2:3: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
- Colossians 3:12: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Yet, Scripture also gives examples of misplaced or false humility.
- Eli and his sons. 1 Samuel 2-3
- Saul and the people of Israel: 1 Samuel 15: 17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
- David and Amnon and Absalom: 2 Samuel 13-14.
Examples of False Humility Today
- Christians, who do not want to assert that their faith is true or to call sin a sin.
- 1 Peter 3: 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
- Matthew 10:32-33: So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
- You ought never to boast in yourself, but you should never fail to boast in the Lord!
- 1 Corinthians 1:31: so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
- 2 Corinthians 10:17: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
- Jeremiah 9: 23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
- Galatians 6:14: But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
- We should humble ourselves, but never humble Christ.
- Parents, who are too timid to rebuke their children.
- Ephesians 6:4: 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Proverbs 13:24: Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
- Pastors, too timid to carry out their responsibilities.
- 1 Timothy 5:20: As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
- 2 Timothy 4:2: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
- Titus 1: 7 For an overseer,[f] as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound[g] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.[h] 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans,[i] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”[j] 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Reasons for False/Misplaced Humility
- Laziness: Eli
- Proverbs 22:13: The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”
- Cowardice: Saul
- Revelation 21:8: But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
- Ezekiel 33: 7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
- A bad Conscience: David
- David had a bad conscience, because of his sin with Bathsheba, so he did not feel adequate to discipline his sons.
Summary
We must repent of our sins and have a good conscience through the Gospel, so that we are not afraid to confess the truth and carry out the authority God has entrusted to us in this life.
In most cases, we must always be humble.
Yet, we must never degrade Christ or His teaching or Gospel.
We must also not use humility as an excuse to fail to carry out our God given responsibilities, especially with regards to the Fourth Commandment.