Humility

Humility

To be humble means to submit to God (and to those His Word says we should submit to), to be subordinate to God (and to those to whom His laws require us to be subordinate).

God gives grace to the humble—and He does not give sparingly. He is rich, and He gives richly. Since the vast majority of believers are in such a poor state, it shows that they have received relatively little grace, and this tells us that they have hardly been humble.

However, people think that they have been very humble. Who is right? God is right. Man is wrong, even very wrong. People usually “submit” when they are in agreement with an order (exhortation, counsel), when they think it is appropriate and good, and when it is according to their own taste.

Think hard about it: How much have you then been submissive? Not at all! Not a single millimeter! How much have you then subordinated yourself? When you “submit” every time you agree with God and His Word, or with the elders, leaders, or subordinates, you are actually left standing as an equal. You have not bowed your neck in the least. Your head is still up in the air! It is completely thoughtless and meaningless to reckon that this is humility or submission. However, this is the very thing that people are apt to do.

Only when incidents occur in which I do not understand why I should act on an order, an exhortation, or counsel; only then do I have the opportunity to submit, to demonstrate humility. However, such opportunities are rarely used, unfortunately!

People are usually in total darkness in this very important area. They do not know what humility is; on the contrary, they think it is virtuous not to submit unless you are in agreement, or in other words, that it is a virtue not to submit or never to be humble. This is how people mistake arrogance for humility! This is truly a critical mistake! No wonder so many souls are in a bad state.

When I submit to what has been said because God’s Word has commanded it; because He is God and I am dust; because He is always right; because He lives in an unapproachable light, whom no man can see (1 Tim. 6:16); because He has given all His laws (about submission, humility, and obedience) in His perfect wisdom; because I have nothing that is good outside of what I have received from Him—and despite the fact that the order, the exhortation, or counsel goes right against what I have in mind or think, understand, or like—then I yield; then I submit; then I am humble.

Then I have occupied my rightful place. Then I receive grace so that I will reach the goal.