Have you ever been around a very humble person and were in awe in the way they conducted themselves? I remember emailing an author of a popular book on story telling discipleship and asking him if I could talk to him on the phone. In a short period of time he sent back an email indicating he would be glad to. He spent almost an hour on the phone helping me and answering my questions I had on discipleship. During the conversation he never brought up all that he had accomplished or books he wrote. He had a simple desire to help build the kingdom of God.
James 4:6 tells us, The Lord gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [1] James goes on to say in 4:10 -Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. [2]
Would you like to grow in humility? I believe we all want to grow in humility because that is God’s desire for us. I certainly do. Why does the Lord oppose the proud? He knows how destructive that behavior is to us and those around us. The Lord also knows that humility changes my actions. I don’t have to be the center of attention. I don’t have to receive notice for what I am doing. A humble person delights in helping others.
In Genesis 11 we learn about the building of the tower of Babel where pride, not humility, is what controlled the actions of the people. This story gives a clear illustration of the dangers of pride and why the Lord opposes such behavior.
How do we grow in humility? Growing in humility is not easy because our sinful nature has a natural tendency to want the opposite, which is pride. There is no special formula, but spending time in God’s word and prayer over time makes a difference. Growing in humbleness can be slow and that is why we need God’s strength and to seek Him in prayer. God loves to help His children grow! May the Lord bless you as you seek Him to transform you into the humble person He wants you to be!
To hear the story of the Tower of Babel listen here:
[1, 2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (James 4:6, James 4:10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.