False Humility

False Humility

Humility is one of the virtues of Christ; yet it is also one of the virtues which Satan uses most in order to deceive people. Jesus says, “I have not come with peace, but with a sword. From now on there shall be division, two against three in one house.”

Satan does not like this sword and this division with which Jesus came, so when he is out to beguile us of our reward, he uses humility, among other things. Col. 2:18.

War is not fashionable in our days. Even though there has never been as much warfare before as there is now. Nevertheless they still call out, “Let us not have any strife; we must practice tolerance and ally ourselves with each other!” This is considered to be the way of humility, the way of Christ. But Jesus came with the sword that was to separate the noble from the base and the pure from the unholy. Joshua was not supposed to make peace with any of the inhabitants of the land, but rather destroy them all with the sword. This is written for our example.

The Gibeonites used guile and wanted to make peace. In their guile they used humility and acted as if they were weak and harmless, and so they robbed Joshua of his reward.

This is how many people come to the church—as Gibeonites. In the church the sword of Christ is to put to death the self-life in all of us, and the Word of the Lord still stands to this very day: “Cursed be everyone who keeps his sword from blood.” But then there are some who come, appearing so humble and full of acknowledgment, that one feels sorry for them. The amazing thing, though, is that their humility and acknowledgment do not lead them on to victory over sin. After a few days have passed, it becomes evident that they are no more humble than that they become greatly offended at the slightest thing, and their acknowledgment goes no deeper than that they commit the same sin over again at the first temptation.

Others, again, have the ability to use humility as a pious covering for everything they do, so no one dares to use the sword on them. They both appear and sound so pious that one lets them live. Nevertheless, they are using guile, just like the Gibeonites did. These Gibeonites often complain that the Word that is spoken is so hard, and that it only results in bondage. This is a sign whereby they can be recognized, and we must be on guard against swearing peace to them.

No one can live for himself and still have liberty to do the will of God. Only when we enter the dying of Christ by the Spirit of Christ can we be raised up to the life of Christ and liberty. Therefore you must not withdraw from the sword by using the guile of the Gibeonites, because then you will never be anything but a slave; neither must you let anyone beguile you of your reward through the same kind of false humility.