Ephesians 4:2d Walk in Humility

Walk in Humility

Ephesians 4:2a

Over the centuries civilizations have come and gone. Historians have analyzed their rise and fall but we need to realize that it is God that will judge and topple empires not other nations. Nebechadnezer was a powerful warrior and leader who successfully controlled the surrounding countries including Israel and Judea. He brought great wealth to his nation by pilfering the countries he conquered. One day he was standing on the roof top of his palace and looked out over the magnificent architectural monuments built by the worlds finest artisans he had brought back from his triumphant crusades. The city he build was 14 miles on each side, making it about 56 miles around the city. The wall was made of brick 87 feet thick and 311 feet high. The wall was wide enough to drive 6 chariots abreast and there were 250 watch towers. There was a gigantic moat surrounding the city filled with the water of the Euphrates river. The only way into the city was to cross the drawbridges. There was a second wall inside the outer wall as a secondary guard. There were roads which ran north and south and east and west. The Euphrates ran diagonally through the city cutting the city in two. At central avenue was a magnificent bridge and ferry boats linking other streets crossing at various other points. At each end of the bridge was a beautiful palace and under the river was an underground passageway. Within the tunnel at various intervals were sumptuous banquet rooms which were constructed entirely of brass. On the one side was the tower of Babel. There were eight levels and the temple was 410 feet above the ground. In this temple was a golden image estimated at some $17.5 million dollars. The sacred vessels used in worship would have cost $200 million. From History we learn that the city of Babylon in its glory and magnificence surpassed anything that had been built upon this earth. There were parks and fields growing crops within the city walls that supplied the 1 million inhabitants with fresh fruits, vegetables and animals for their lavish feasts. What a magnificent sight Nebuchadnezzar must have seen and to think that he was ruler of this great city and the country side for thousands of miles around.

He said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"

Because of his pride God immediately punished him by taking away his authority. For 7 years Nebuchadnezzar wandered in the fields eating grass like a wild animal until he acknowledged that God was sovereign. When Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself before God, God restored his honour and splendor and kingdom. He became even greater than before. The bottom line for Nebuchadnezzar was that everything God does is right and all his ways are just. Those who walk in pride God is able to humble. Pr 29:23 A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honour.

Goliath, seemed to get away with jeering God for a while but when David came along knowing that Goliath was blaspheming, stood against him in the power of God and Goliath's pride and taunting was stilled. We can read many stories in the Bible about people who did not feel that they needed God. After they fell into destruction they usually recognized the fact o f God's sovereignty and they had to humble themselves before God. 2Ch 7:14 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 from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Pride is destructive in relationships. Proud people put other people down. They can never admit to their own mistakes and blame others when things go wrong. This is very destructive as our spouse or friend begins to feel put down and worthless. A proud person wants to hide the hurt inside. Since this kind of a person is not willing to admit being wrong, they do not allow others to see the true self inside. A person who is humble is willing to look for help and admit to the fact that perhaps, they do not know everything. When we have a learning attitude, we will receive God's help through others. We will be able to change because God is willing to revive our spirit when we look to Him and others for help. As Isa 57:15 says, “For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives for ever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

If someone asked you how to become humble would you know how to answer? By responding - do not be proud - would be a right answer but it would not be a way of helping someone. What are some ways of learning to think and act which demonstrate humility.

Jeremiah 9:23,24 tell us that if we are going to boast there is a proper boasting that is acceptable.
Jer 9:23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. So if we feel a need to boast we should boast that we understand and know God. How many of you think you really know and understand God? Not too many. I guess that we should not be boasting at all until we reach that point.

These verses do show us how we are to demonstrate humility. We are to not focus on our achievements, our abilities or talents but we are to show gratitude for God's work in our lives without taking credit for it. Someone may say, “Are you ever smart.” Your natural response would probably be, “ Yes, you're right.” or “I know” or “You haven't seen anything yet.” or just a big smile taking credit for the cleverness you just demonstrated. These are all responses of pride. What would a proper response be? Giving credit for those who are our teachers or mentors by explaining that you are grateful for the lessons which your parents, spiritual leaders, or bible have taught you. So one way to demonstrate humility then is to give credit when we are praised to the person or God for teaching us the quality or idea which we were able to demonstrate.

A second way to learn humility is by trying to model our lives after Christ. We have an example of humility in Christ. Phil 2:5, 8b Says to “have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus... he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! This verse shows us the second way in which we can demonstrate humility. We will become obedient. Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father to become a sacrifice for the all people of the world. We cannot become a sacrifice for sin but we can sacrifice our time, abilities and even finances to help others to become successful. Parents do this when they help their children in school or help family or friends complete a project or event and then slip into obscurity (slip into the background) without taking credit. A proud person will want just as much or more credit for the successful completion of the project.

We recently redid some of our floors in our house. It helps our house to look more attractive and looks good. I did a lot of the work but there was a lot of others who helped. My wife deserves a lot of the credit for picking out a good match for our decor, buying and helping stain and varnish some of the woodwork. My sons helped clean up the floor so we could put it all down. One son helped me put most of the flooring down. Sales people at the store gave us good suggestions. My employer provided me with an income to pay for the flooring. My father taught me how to do this kind of work. My son and brother lent me tools to use to do the job. God gave me health, a sound mind and strength. Now how much credit can I take for the successful completion of the project? I could take all the credit, which would be prideful or give credit to those who helped which would encourage them and demonstrate God is working on developing humility in me.

In due time God will reward those who are faithful. Look at the kind of honour God gave Jesus for being obedient even in the face of death. Phil 2: 9 - 11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Humility allows us to use what we have for others but pride takes advantage of others, using them to feed our own ego. A person who is proud tries to use other people to become successful and then takes all the profit and credit for himself. Phil 2:3 says to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

The third way to develop humility is to keep a teachable spirit. Be willing to listen to others, learn from them, apply what they tell us and then when we are successful to give credit to them. I Cor 13:4 tells us that “love is patient, love is kind, does not envy, does not boast; it is not proud.” If we are proud, we cannot really love those that help us for we rob them of the honour due to them by taking credit for ourselves.

God cannot use us if we are proud. Mt 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.. James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
(1Pe 5:5)

The key to humility is submission. 1Pe 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” We should submit to our leaders, seek to serve our employers trying to find ways in which we can make our company successful. In due time we will be recognized for our submissive and humble attitudes. This is so opposite to the world's philosophy of “Me First” but God's ways are not our ways and His ways are higher than our ways even if we do not understand them. Let us submit ourselves to God as a living sacrifice and in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up being faithful.

Examine your live and see if God points out any weak areas which have shown pride. Let us confess our sins and have a teachable spirit as we seek to be humble before our Mighty God. He alone is worthy of praise.

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Sept 8,2002