Humility is the best policy

I like the quote, “honesty is the best policy” – and really the title of this post goes hand in hand with that statement. If we are honest with ourselves regarding who we are – we are humble.

God has placed some INCREDBLE people in my life. These people are talented, accomplished, smart, organized, beautiful people who all have one thing in common: Humility. This humility blows me away and God continues to use it in teaching me who He is. In learning this lesson I have done a little Biblical research on the word, and wanted to share it with you all in hopes that it will mean as much to you as it has to me. You might be thinking, “Are you kidding? I don’t like myself at all, I am humble!” Think again, dear one. Humility does not mean not liking who you are. It does not mean always being quite and meek. It goes far beyond what society might say, and into our hearts.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear. 2 Chron 7:14

I think it is worth noting that prior to the instruction to humble ourselves the Word says that we are called by HIS name. This puts humility right in our face. We are not our own, we are called by HIS name, and therefore, we are His. This life doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to Him alone. Keeping that in mind completely changes our perspective. It has to. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus says, “I am gentle and humble in heart.” Claiming that we are humble simply isn’t enough; we have to be humble “in heart” and “by heart”. Deep inside must live the knowledge that He is before all else, and we are created to worship Him in our thoughts, actions, reactions, motivations, and words – all to worship Him. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:2 to be “completely humble and gentle”.

The promises of God in the Word to the humble are beautiful.

He will lift up the humble (James 4:10 & 2 Pet 5:6)

He will guide the humble in what is right (Psalm 25:9)

He gives favor to the humble (Prov 3:34)

He will look upon you (Isaiah 66:2)

He will exalt you (Matt 23:12)

With humility comes wisdom (Prov 11:2)

Humility comes before honor (Prov 15:33)

Don’t worry that to be humble means that you will lose. You will LOSE – you lose yourself, but what you gain is so much more valuable. As we humble ourselves toward one another and put them before ourselves we become like Christ, who is humble and gentle. I love the lyric in Christy Nockels’ new song, Ever Lifting, “I’m lifting my hands just to show you I know where I belong”. In humility we seek Him and praise Him and love others. Knowing that all we do is for Him and by Him and through Him (Rom 11:36). And that He alone is worthy. Living our lives to worship and honor Him IS where we belong… where else would we want to be?