Titanium Humility

 

A friend today was sharing a story about a little 'ole church lady, sweetest thing you ever saw, never had an unkind word to say about anyone.  One day he was telling her all about a recent mission trip, how he did this and he did that...She rightly perceived that he was being boastful.  In response she sweetly said, "I'm so glad that God has you to prop Him up, Mark!"  As I blogged about yesterday, that was a "settin' down"!

Was this little lady a humble person?  It seems she was.  However, her humility was not one of weakness.  She knew when to have some titanium in her humility.  In this case, she called on it to disciple a younger brother in the Lord.

Today's scripture is from Philippians 2:3-11 (NET) as we continue our journey through this book.

3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  

4  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6  Who, being in very nature^a God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7  rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8  and being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9  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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Godly humility is a very desirable spiritual trait.  I've noticed, though, that there is a lot of the fake kind around.  Let's look at how Jesus Himself modeled this trait for us.

Godly humility is sacrificial.
It requires we put those we love before our own interests - - - Jesus Christ our Savior in first place of course, and then our loved ones, our friends, seeking to build them up, to lead them to salvation in Jesus Christ or to lead them into deeper relationship with Him.
Jesus gave us the ultimate example of this.
If we look at His life, it was a picture of sacrifice, from beginning to the end.  He is our Good Shepherd, who lays down His very life for His sheep.  We see the titanium in his humility in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46).  There, after praying earnestly for God the Father to remove from Him the burden of the world's sins, Jesus obediently humbled Himself for the task set before Him.  Can you even imagine such sacrifice?

Godly humility is not self-seeking.
Humble people do not seek recognition for the good they do.  The dead give-away that someone is not humble is if they want people to recognize them for their humility or good deeds, if they seek title or position in order to receive the praise of others.  No matter how humble their words in such cases, their hearts are not humble.  Jesus talked about this in the context of giving, when he said "don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing" (Matthew 6:3).
I watched the principal of a school stoop to pick up trash on the grounds as he walked on an errand across campus.  It was not his "job" to do that.  He did it unconsciously, without thinking.  He saw a job that needed doing; and, he did it.  That is humility.
You'll notice that Jesus did not exalt Himself, in the verses above.  Have you ever wondered about that?  After finishing the work Father gave Him to do, He certainly had that right.....
But, you see, in every action He took, He was being our example.  He let Father exalt Him, the Son!
So should we.

Godly humility is fearless.
Sometimes, to cover our fear, we "put on humility".  But, that is a deception as well as an excuse to shy away from the opportunities we have been given.  Godly humility is manifest when God's children look at the Enemy, allow themselves to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and then pick up their swords to fight for truth, for righteousness, for the gospel.....for love.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had it (Daniel 3:16-18)
Daniel had it (Daniel 6).
Esther had it (Esther 4:12-16)
Those who have given their lives as Christian martyrs had it.
The list could go on and on.... 

Godly humility trusts God. 
After we have been obedient in doing what He calls us to do, humility then continues as it trusts God with the outcome.  (Oh y'all....this one is so hard for me!  Well, humility in all points is hard for me, but this is the hardest.)  If we walk with God, we know deep down in our heart-of-hearts when God fearlessly wants us to sally forth in battle (CHARGE!!!!!), and when He does not.  It's those "does nots" that tie me in knots.  I'd rather "fix it" than pray about it; you know what I'm talkin' 'bout?  This is especially true when it appears "evil is prospering".  You know, the psalmists had the same dilemma.
Honestly, "fixing it" (even when it's not my place to fix it) is much easier than waiting on God to move.  It's comical, really.  I'll pray, "God, glorify Yourself through this situation!"  And, then, I am tempted to act in a way that steals His glory.
But, be sure of this:  godly humility puts the spotlight on God.  It magnifies and lifts up Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, our obedience brings difficult outcomes, scary outcomes.  Look again at that list of people above.  Sometimes, our obedience brings all kinds of personal loss, even physical death.
Daniel escaped the lions' den unscathed.

²³ Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God.

  
"Unscathed", though, is not always the outcome for us, nor is it always God's will.
But, don't miss this!
When we are obedient and trusting, even when our obedience brings more trials and tribulations, we will always be safe with God.  Our eternity is safe with Him, even when our road here is rocky and rough.  

Humility is counter-intuitive, isn't it?  It goes against the way "the world" thinks.  But, it is exactly how Jesus lived.
 
Father, learning from my Savior's humility is convicting.  Even so, if I long to be like Jesus, I can't skip over the "humility parts".  If I long to "walk resplendent", I can't take shortcuts along the way.  I love that old hymn that says, "Grant us wisdom.  Grant us courage, that we fail not man nor Thee." In Jesus' name, oh yes!  May it be so! Amen.

God of Grace and God of Glory
 

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee whom we adore,
Serving Thee whom we adore.

                   http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/g/o/d/godgragl.htm