Weapons of the Righteous – Be Humble

Recently, I went in to my bank to get a new debit card as my old card was falling apart.  After being with the customer service representative for nearly an hour, he could not get through to my branch to get approval, so he went to his supervisor to get signed off on giving me the card.  However, the supervisor wouldn’t because of concerns with my income.  I am a missionary so I get donations, but that explanation was not enough even though they had my bank statement.  Normally, I would have gotten angry and felt humiliated because of the denial of a replacement card, but after going through similar situations over these past years of being a missionary, I simply expressed my thanks and calmly left.  The next morning God showed me what to do and my branch finally sent an email, so I got my card.  God worked it out and I was thankful my ego did not rise up in anger.   

I know God has allowed me to go through these circumstances to deal with my pride issue.  When I moved back to Jamaica about ten years ago, I thought I was going to conquer the media industry, but instead rejection conquered me.  In the space of two years, I had been turned down by numerous potential employers, I failed to come up with sponsors for programs I had produced, and when I finally did get a part-time job, it didn’t work out well.  I felt dejected and demoralized.  I wondered why nothing would go my way.   It was years later that I realized God couldn’t use me as He would like because my pride was getting in the way.   I now comprehend that it was His grace, mercy and love that allowed me to be rejected for whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)   God desires to exalt me, but first I needed to be humble.

I am thankful that God has humbled me throughout the years, even though pride does have the tendency to still rear its ugly head. Nevertheless, I have come to a point in my life where I often ask God to search my heart to see if there is any wicked way in me, so that I can quickly turn from any such thought or deed.  I understand that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18). Therefore, I have become much more diligent in checking on the motives of my heart.  

Too many of us are overly acquainted with pride, which is a sinister character who draws us into self-centeredness leading to selfishness and even self-pity.  Some may not agree that self-pity comes from the root of pride.  Well, I Googled self-pity and it means excessive, self-absorbed unhappiness over one's own troubles.  Self-pity can be quite egocentric, looking at self as being victimized.   Christ has made us victors not victims.  We are victors when we walk in humility with an outward focus to help and encourage others.   That doesn’t mean that we don’t take care of ourselves.  Jesus told us to love others as we love ourselves.  Without a doubt, He does expect us to love ourselves, but not be lovers of self.  Yes, there is a difference.   When we love ourselves we are content in who God created us to be and we are ready to share His love with the world around us without applause.   On the other hand, when we are lovers of self we are self-seeking and expect others to feed our feeling of self-importance.   Being a lover of self is sin because it is pride, and God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5)   Therefore, we must clothe ourselves with humility towards each other.  Jesus was not a fan of those who were lovers of self.

But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. Matthew 23:5-7

Throughout my years in ministry, I have encountered many who have given to be seen and lauded by men.  Some go as far as pretending to give in order that their façade of philanthropy is publicized to garner praise.  Not only does the right hand know what the left hand is doing, but so does the whole body and the rest of other bodies who are willing to hear and read about such prideful acts of seeming generosity.  Jesus said, “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”  Matthew 6:2

It is much better to humble ourselves before the Lord, than for Him to humble us.   When we humble ourselves before Him, we will not do anything out of selfish ambition, but rather, we will value others above ourselves and He will lift us up.  Solomon tells us in Proverbs that the Lord detests the proud of heart and they will not go unpunished.  This can be seen throughout the Scriptures.

For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and lofty
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be abased. Isaiah 12:2

I would prefer not to go this route, especially when there is this great promise in Psalm 37:11 - But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.  I had meditated on this verse at one time and desired my inheritance quickly.  The version of the Bible I had read said that the meek will inherit the land.  Consequently, I set out to be meek by studying a couple books.  Meekness apparently is not a popular topic or else I would have bought more literature to ensure that I would become as meek as I could be.  I guess many persons do not understand that meekness is not weakness, but rather quiet strength.  I wanted the land, so I was trying to teach myself meekness.  Unfortunately for me, it only made me more miserable.  Why?  I was focused on self and getting what I wanted for my happiness.  

We need to be wrapped up in humility, not thinking that we are better than others, or that we know better than God as that causes outward rebellion.  Also, prideful humility may sound oxymoronic, but boasting in our humbleness can be quite popular in Christian circles.  Lest we forget, God knows our hearts.  It is quite important to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves because in our pride we cannot truly seek God as our thoughts of self do not leave room for Him.  Let us humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord, so that He will exalt us in His timing.