In his January-February 2009 Living Church News Editorial, Dr. Meredith asked the question, "What Is Deep Conversion?" In that article, he wrote about the kind of humility that is required to take correction and not become offended. Our outward evidence of conversion— such as Sabbath and Holy Day observance, the kind of meat we eat, and even going through a baptism service—does not necessarily reflect our inner heart. Personally, I found the message simple yet most profound.
True humility is a matter of the heart and of the mind—it is how we view ourselves. We can put up an outward front of being humble, but true humility comes through when our pride is tested—when we are challenged, or are confronted with adversity. Sadly, when it comes to true humility, many men and women have been found wanting.
Humility can be described as having a childlike attitude or a servant's attitude. You are likely familiar with the passage in which the disciples asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1–4). Jesus called a little child to come to Him in the midst of the disciples. He then explained that His followers must be converted and become as little children if they hope to be in the Kingdom of God at all— much less be greatest in the Kingdom. Christ was focusing here on the humility of little children—and it is the most humble who will be the greatest in God's Kingdom.
A short time later, the mother of James and John came to Jesus, kneeling before Him to ask that her two sons sit at His right and left in the Kingdom (Matthew 20:20–28). Again, Jesus made the point that the one who humbles himself to serve others will be the chief amongst them. Yet even here we see Jesus deferring to His Father, saying that the Father would decide who would sit at His right hand and His left. Christ did not assume a prerogative that was not His. By contrast, how often do we see people taking upon themselves matters that are not theirs to decide, or that should not be their concern?
The Road to Peace
Psalm 131 is one of the shortest Psalms in the Bible. It only has three verses, but it is filled with deep meaning. David declares that "my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me" (v. 1). Since the death of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong in January 1986, we have seen haughty hearts and lofty—prideful—eyes among some of those who should be servants of God's people. We see self-appointed apostles, self-proclaimed prophets and self-declared witnesses springing up here and there—and, amazingly, there are people foolish enough to follow them. We have also seen men who gave in to "hurt feelings" and decided to go off and "do their own thing"—which has generally been a little thing or nothing.
By contrast, notice how David declared his limitations. He did not concern himself "with great matters," nor with things too difficult—matters over his head or beyond his area of responsibility.
In verse 2 of this psalm, David speaks of a calm and quiet soul. We see that by avoiding the vices of verse 1, David could keep his soul from feeling unsettled and troubled. Not seeking to be noticed and honored, he would not feel slighted, unappreciated and hurt when such notice and honor did not come. Instead, David describes feeling as settled as a weaned child. Parents know that a weaned child—a youngster perhaps three, four or five years old—is not constantly clinging to its mother, and is not constantly in need of a source of comforting nourishment. Yet we can certainly contrast this attitude with that of a teenager who "knows it all" and not only is independent from his mother, but actually rejects his mother's comfort.
Then, in verse 3, David shows that we should look to God, since He is the source of our inner peace and our hope. Our "need" to be noticed, or to feel important, will ultimately not satisfy us. Only He will ultimately satisfy us. He is the One who will take care of those "great matters" that are above and beyond our ability to respond.
Jesus was no hypocrite when He instructed His disciples to exercise humility. He constantly held up His Father as greater than Himself. Christ did not claim the prerogatives of His Father, and He set an example of service, as when He washed the disciples' feet (John 13:1–17). Here, Jesus took it upon Himself to perform the job of the lowest household servant, the one who washed the dusty and tired feet of guests—no matter who they were.
Of course, the most outstanding example of service is found in Christ's sacrifice for all of us. Even though He was with the Father from the very beginning (John 1:1–3), Jesus did not see it as beneath Him to subject Himself to the indignities and cruelties of hostile men and women who spat upon Him, hit Him, hurled insults at Him—and finally crucified and killed Him (Philippians 2:5–8; Matthew 27:27–31).
The Road to Dust and Ashes
Humble men and women recognize their place in the scheme of things. Abraham was a humble man. He saw himself as nothing more than "dust and ashes" in comparison to the One who came to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:27). By contrast, we read that Job was a very righteous man who did not quite get the picture of who he was in comparison to God. But even here, God was merciful and granted him his wish to have his story told.
In describing Job, God said there was "none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8). Yet, God allowed Satan to persecute this upright man so He could teach Job—and all the Jobs of every age— where they fit in the grand scheme of things. In the process, Satan took away Job's family, his fortune, his health and his dignity. The only ones he left behind were Job's wife (who had the sympathetic habit of advising him to "curse God and die!" in Job 2:9) and three friends who met the description of, "with friends like these, who needs enemies?" Nevertheless, God did grant Job one of his wishes during all these trials (see Job 19:23; 31:35).
Job's trial must have lasted for months, but its end finally came when God answered Job out of a whirlwind—and it was quite a lecture. "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me" (Job 38:1–3). God peppered Job with question after question that he could not answer. God caused Job to look beyond what Job himself had done, and to look up at what God had done (Job 38–41). Chapter 42 shows that God had made Himself understood when Job responded, "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak.… I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (vv. 2–6). Yes, Job came to "dust and ashes"—just as Abraham did when he met the God of the Old Testament before the destruction of Sodom.
The Road to Change
God also had to humble the Apostle Paul, who described his old self in this way: "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man" (1 Timothy 1:13). Yet, after his conversion, Paul found a humility he had not previously known. He saw himself as "less than the least of all the saints" (Ephesians 3:8), and as a "wretched man" who could not deliver himself from the bondage of sin apart from Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24).
The sincere realization of our own worthlessness is essential to our spiritual survival and growth. Humility paves the way for understanding. It recognizes that, apart from God, we are nothing (Isaiah 40:17). All of humanity put together amounts to less than a bacterium on the sole of a shoe against the backdrop of an endless universe. The only thing that makes us significant is God's plan, purpose, interest and involvement in our lives. Isaiah describes the attitude of mind we must have if we want God to look upon us favorably: "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isaiah 66:2).
It is important, however, to recognize that while we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to, we are to appreciate the work God is doing in us and through us (Romans 12:4–11). When we have the right perspective, we are neither haughty nor timid. We can and should "therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
Humble people do not promote themselves; they let others praise them (Proverbs 25:6; 27:2). By being focused on others' needs rather than their own desires, they get along better with those around them (Ephesians 4:1–2, 5:21). "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." It is in this context that Paul instructs us: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:3–5).
Because humble people have realistic views of themselves, and self-promotion is not their way, they are able to be taught. God's ministers, when visiting new contacts, look more than anything else for a humble and teachable attitude. Too often, however, we encounter people who want to be the teachers. I am reminded of a visit several years ago with two young ladies who were looking for a church where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the church's doctrine. They had been studying the Bible for about a year, and one of them said, "I think it is arrogant when someone thinks he has all the knowledge." Of course, we had not claimed to know everything; the problem was that she did not like what she was hearing, and was self-willed. Her carnal mind could not recognize the arrogance in assuming that her year of Bible study put her knowledge on an equal footing with others who had been studying Scripture for many decades!
The Road to Answers
We all want God to hear our prayers, but have you realized the connection between humility and communication with God? "Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar" (Psalm 138:6). Think deeply about that. As great and lofty as God is, He humbles Himself to regard the lowest amongst us. Yet, at the same time, puny insignificant individuals who exalt themselves in their own minds are left far from Him, while He hears the desire of the humble (Psalm 10:17).
Note the example of Mary's words upon learning of God's plan. "My soul magnifies [declares the greatness of] the Lord" (Luke 1:46–55). Throughout her song, Mary declares God's greatness, praising Him for noticing one so lowly as herself. Yes, God chose a humble young woman to be the mother of His Son. Take time to read and meditate on this song, which displays such a beautifully humble spirit.
Luke also records the well-known parable of the "Pharisee and the Tax Collector" (Luke 18:9–14). You are no doubt familiar with the contrast between the two men. Jesus teaches us that God is not impressed by all our personal righteousness, but rather by a genuinely humble heart. Only with a sincere attitude like the tax collector's can we be justified in God's sight.
The Road to Honor
With God, humility precedes honor. God tells us this many times in Scripture, which should prompt us to cry out for the true humility He desires in us (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12; 22:4; Matthew 23:12; James 4:6). The psalmist Asaph tells us: "I said to the boastful, 'Do not deal boastfully,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.' For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another"(Psalm 75:4–7).
We, as human beings, may sometimes become concerned about "getting ahead" in this life. How often do we see someone develop hurt feelings because someone else has received some honor? People fight over the most trivial matters—who hands out hymnals, who is made an officer in Spokesman Club, who is ordained as a deacon or deaconess, or how "our" job was taken away and given to another. Yet, in the end, do any of these matter? They matter only to a person filled with carnal pride.
Our ultimate honor will be to inherit the earth in the Family of God. Who does God tell us will receive that honor? "What does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). "But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Psalm 37:11). "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). This is the road to the greatness God desires for us.