A LESSON IN HUMILITY

"God resisteth the proud, and giveth his grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

Humility
By Stacey Thaeler

Yield obedience instead of demand it,
Content with what God provides.
Let His every word be your nourishment,
His suffering before your eyes.

Banish idols from your life and be filled with His teaching,
Then spiritual prosperity you'll achieve.
What you measure out will be measured to you,
So give more than you receive.

Don't be like Cain, so full of rebellion,
Who, with the Lord's warning never complied.
No, don't sell yourself into bondage,
All for the sake of anger and pride.

As we keep our minds humble, boasting only in the Lord,
Disorder and conflict will flee.
Step out in meekness and long suffering
Because Christ came in humility.


Humility is a virtue every Christian should possess, if we claim to walk in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. For our Savior was of a meek and gentle spirit. He was never arrogant or proud. Neither was He rebellious, boastful nor disrespectful to others and to His Father. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. He showed complete and total obedience to the will of God.

But what is humility?

Humility comes from the Latin word “humilitas” and translated as “humble”. It is defined as “A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake." It is the quality of being respectful to God and to others. Moreso, it is the art of putting the welfare of others before our own welfare.

Humbleness is the exact opposite of egocentricity, pride, arrogance, vanity and boastfulness. It is an expression of man’s intrinsic self-worth. The act of humility makes us kneel and bow down before our Creator--a virtue God wants us to have for us to claim His promise of undeserved grace.


When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the falseness of the treacherous will destroy them. (NAS, Proverbs 11:2-3)