STUFF ABOUT GOD AND CHRISTIANITY | Ron Braley
The gentle will be blessed with inheriting the Earth; the merciful receive mercy; the peacemaker is called a son of God (Matthew 5:5-9).
These states of being require humility — lowering one’s selfimportance to a place where they disappear and the ultimate good of others and obedience to God become dominant.
This is desirable because God loves the humble and opposes the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
Our cancerous self-centeredness and citizenship in the “most individualistic nation in the world” make humility nearly impossible, and we don’t see the behavior modeled often. So, I thought I’d help. After all, who wants to be opposed by God?
What is humility? What isn’t?
False humility
To respond after condemnation with, “I mess up too …” without stating any sins (certainly not the BIG ones) is one example. It can come as “humble bragging” or self-righteous prayers. Sometimes, false humility downplays abilities in the shadow of an underlying superior attitude. Humility is, and does, none of these prideful things, though.
Humble is as humble does. Solomon, purportedly the wisest human ever, wrote in Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.”
So, wisdom and humility can go hand in hand.
The humble walk by God’s spirit and are gentle, self-controlled and kind in their childlike unconditional love and lack of self-inflation. Their reward? They will be exalted and elevated to significant positions in God’s kingdom (Matthew 18:4; Luke 18:14).
And this is what humility does. The humble turn the other cheek and understand that just because something could be said doesn’t mean it should. They don’t brag, and their concern, prayers and humility are sincere.
Here are a few biblical examples of humility:
• Jesus, although fretting about the incredible pain and suffering about to take place, and after asking God to take it from him, obediently accepted his fate (Luke 22:42).
• Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8-9). His reward? Exaltation and promotion.
• “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
• We place the well-being and ultimate good of others above our own: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
• We patiently bear with others in the pursuit of peace, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
• Finally, the prophet Micah teaches us God requires us to “do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with him” (Micah 6:8).
Summary
God loves the humble and peacemaker while opposing the proud, arrogant, fake, violent or unloving. Which are you? Next time, we’ll step out in faith. Meanwhile, love justice and mercy, and walk humbly with God authentically.
God’s blessings and peace.
Braley, a Taylor-based minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.
