A Word about Humility

Today I want to share a word about humility, as I comment on 1 Timothy 1:12-17. This passage reads:

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We all have done and said cringe-worthy things in the past. I remember two specific occasions when I was in school that cause me to feel embarrassed even today.

The first time I remember sticking my foot in my mouth was in elementary school. A school mate had brought a gift to another girl in my class for her birthday. The gift was a humble one: a small multi-pack of LifeSavers candy. When I made fun of that gift, the birthday girl turned to me and said, “Hey, wait a minute! At least she thought enough of me to bring me a present. That’s a lot more than you did!” At that retort, I sputtered and stuttered and slunk away, firmly put in my place.

Another embarrassing moment in my school career occurred several years later, when I was a senior in high school. I was asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance during our school’s spring awards program. During the rehearsal for the event, I stepped to the microphone and said nonchalantly, “We all know the Pledge of Allegiance, so we don’t need to say it now.” I then turned on my heel and sat down on my chair on the platform. 

That evening, when hundreds of students and their parents had gathered in the gym, I confidently stepped to the mic and began, “Our Father, who art in Heav . . .” Amazingly, everyone in the gym started to repeat the Lord’s Prayer along with me, until I burst out in nervous laughter! After I regained my poise, I was able to properly finish my assigned task, and then, thoroughly embarrassed, I slunk away to my chair on the platform. I felt sure that everyone was staring at me for the rest of the event!

These types of incidents will keep one humble, although it would be less embarrassing if I had followed the counsel given to us in James 4:10:

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Paul, a fellow leader of the early church with James, also learned this lesson. And, like me, he learned it the hard way.

PAUL’S ARROGANCE:

Paul did not begin his walk with Jesus with a natural humility. In fact, before he was confronted by Christ on the Damascus Road, he would have said that he had a lot to brag about as he wrote to the church at Philippi:

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6)

From other passages in the New Testament, we know that Paul had not only been a Pharisee, but he was also the son of a Pharisee. He had also been taught at the feet of the noted Jewish scholar and lawyer Gamaliel, and humanly, Paul had reason to consider himself special. He had been brought up to think himself to be smarter and more righteous than other people, and he embraced that sentiment. But then he met Jesus, face-to-face.

PAUL’S COMEUPPANCE:

As many qualifications and character qualities as Paul had, he found that he was nothing when compared to the Lord Jesus. Acts Chapter 9 tells us how Paul, after he had not deigned to get his hands dirty at the stoning of Stephen, acquired a license from the rulers of the Jews to go hunt Christians. As he was heading to Damascus, “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,” Jesus met him on the way. Paul was thrown to the ground and blinded, and verbally rebuked by Christ. Luke, the author of Acts, tells what happened next:

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Paul (who was then called Saul) had met Jesus and in an instant, he went from the role of avenging angel to the role of helpless invalid. This reproof made my embarrassing moments in school pale in comparison. 

PAUL’S HUMILITY:

After the Damascus Road experience, and after being discipled by Barnabas, Paul came to realize that all the things about himself that he thought were important, all those things that he had been told made him special, all those things in which he had invested his pride and personal worth, all those things were actually worthless. He realized that instead of being righteous that he had been conceived in sin. He realized that instead of being visionary and smart that he was actually blind and ignorant. He realized that instead of being zealous for God that he was actually a blasphemer. His entire life was turned upside down. 

Once Paul came face-to-face with the reality of his spiritual condition without Christ, he was never the same again. His human arrogance was gone, replaced by the humility that comes from meeting Jesus in a personal way. This is apparent in his epistles such as in the Book of Romans, where in Chapter 3 he stated flatly:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10-12)

And again, in Romans 3:23 he stated:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God . . .

In saying these truths in Romans and other books of the New Testament, Paul was not merely shaking an accusing finger at others. No, he knew that he was also a sinner saved by the grace of God. In fact, far from being a proud Pharisee, Paul now called himself the chief of all sinners.

PAUL’S COUNSEL TO US:

If Paul was with us today, I believe he would be quite assertive in telling us two important facts for our lives:

First, because none of us are righteous, we all must turn to Christ for our salvation and for forgiveness of our sins. This is the most important decision we can ever make and choosing Christ above all else is the only way to have a right relationship with God and to secure our eternal destiny. That process, of course, begins with realizing we are spiritually, morally, and intellectually bankrupt, but that Jesus is glad to enrich us in all those areas if we would only bow our will to His.

Second, once we have trusted Christ with our salvation and our future, Paul would remind us: 

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

Like diligence, service, and self-control, humility is not an exciting value, that is, until you fail to exercise it. Then things can get out of control fast! That’s why Paul would tell us to humble ourselves, before God does that task for us!