Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme this month: “True Greatness”
Our Bible verse for today: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Humility is a mark of true greatness.”
I will admit to being a football fan. I don’t watch very much television but I do watch football games. Like most fans, I have my favorite teams and my favorite players. Typically I have great respect for the players who are quiet and humble and who simply strive to be good athletes, good sportsmen, and good examples. Peyton Manning comes to mind. So does Aaron Rodgers. I’m also a baseball fan and have great admiration for players like Lou Gehrig and Tony Gwynn, and for the same reason – they were great but they were also humble.
I have little tolerance for the loud-mouthed hot dogs who think way too highly of themselves, who are convinced of their own greatness and are constantly tooting their own horns. That’s true whether we’re talking about football players, baseball players, or candidates for President.
In the Bible God commends a humble spirit and He condemns those who exalt themselves. That was Jesus’ point in Matthew 23:11 and it is a point God makes repeatedly throughout scripture. Proverbs 16:18 warns that “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” Religious pride was the primary sin of the Pharisees (Matthew 6:5). An argument among Jesus’ disciples about who among them would be the greatest earned them all a stern rebuke from Jesus (Luke 9:46-48).
One of the keys to the greatness of Moses was his humility (Numbers 12:3). Jesus described Himself as “humble and gentle in heart” (Matthew 11:29). The Apostle Paul tells us to be completely humble and gentle (Ephesians 4:2). James tells us to humble ourselves before the Lord (James 4:10). Likewise Peter writes that we must humble ourselves (1 Peter 5:6).
The problem with humility is that it is so elusive. If we try to force it, it becomes false humility. When practiced to excess, it becomes groveling. And once we’re sure we are humble, we obviously are not. I had a friend who once informed me (tongue in cheek) that he was very humble, and that he was proud of it!”
Godly humility, as seen in Moses and Jesus, and as called for by Paul, James, and Peter, is a virtue that comes from within and works its way out. It’s a matter of the heart and it is developed by the Holy Spirit in us. The more spiritually mature a person becomes, the more true humility will be a part of who they are.
Humility is a mark of true greatness, but it’s a work of the Holy Spirit in your heart as He slowly and progressively transforms you into the person God wants you to be.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 