Sometimes it’s a scary thought that our love for God is measured by how we relate to other people.
“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
“And this command we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
1 John 4:20-21
I recently finished reading Humility by Andrew Murray. Not that I needed to, I’ve already got humble.
(Just kidding.)
The thing about humility, as the author points out, is that it’s not so hard to assume a posture of humility before God, the hard thing is keeping an attitude of humility with all the people. Humility isn’t just a train of thought, it’s part of your nature. Or not, as the case may be.
The Example
He starts out the book talking about our greatest example, Jesus Christ, and how He came to earth in humility. If anyone didn’t need to be humble, it was the God Man.
And yet He acted and spoke with humility. I find that pretty damning. I’ve got nothing to be proud of, and I struggle with this. Jesus was the King and Creator of everything, and He was always humble.
It was not His will, it was not His words. It was the will and the words of the Father. Even to the point of death…
“He humbled Himself and became obedient to death.”
Philippians 2:8
God Exulted
You want to be exalted by God? Then get humble.
“He who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:11
And…
“Whoever humbles himself… is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:4
Why is humility such a big deal? Because it’s about ascribing the praise to God. He actually deserves it, unlike us who were given everything we have.
“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
1 Corinthians 4:7
It goes against everything in our fleshly bodies to give the praise away, instead of heaping it up for ourselves. But like all God’s commands, what He says to do is really the best thing for us.
“But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
James 4:6
May God get all the glory!
Sounds a good book! He’s written some other good books too.
Sound like a book that should be read often – especially when things are going well!
Can’t help being reminded of the tennis player when I think of him though.
Yeah, you could read it often, it’s a quick wee book. Next I’m going to read C J Mahaney’s book of the same title (well, soon, there’s a pile of books on my desk to read).
Yup, I was thinking of the tennis player when I wrote his name, the difference is this guy’s a winner…
what did i hear? “Humility rejoices in someone else’s success as much as if it were his own.” obviously there is alittle more to it than that but thats a good place to start.