A Lesson About Humility
A LESSON ABOUT HUMILITY
Micah 6:6-8; Romans 12:3
By Dr. R. J. Lightsey II
The Random House College Dictionary defines “humility” as the qualities or conditions of being humble; a modest sense of one’s own importance; lowliness, meekness.
There are many times when the children of God don’t act with humility. Too often, we draw attention to ourselves (and that‘s usually when we are not acting to the best of our God-given ability), and we strive to be the center of attraction. We feel that if we are not noticed or recognized, we are being mistreated. We often forget that it’s not about us. It’s about Jesus. I hope this message will remind us that it’s all about Jesus and also remind us that we must humble ourselves in all we do and God will exalt us as He sees fit.
Micah 6:6-8: “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, oh man, what is good: and what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
The purpose of Micah’s prophecy is to face the people with their sins and to speak the word of God’s judgment that must come because of their persistent sinning. Micah completes the purpose of his book by ending each discourse with a word about restoration, which will only come as a result of confession of sin. In the verses above, Micah points out the requirements of the Lord as they relate to the “proper” way to come before Him. Bowing before God and bringing offerings (calves, rams, oil, your firstborn) are fine. However, the act of confession of sin and repentance must be accompanied with mercy (kindness) and humility. An important viewpoint of the Old Testament is that religious rituals void of spiritual reality and a life of total allegiance to a sovereign Lord is worthless. A sincere walk with God requires and demands humility.
Romans 12:3 – “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
The righteousness of God will cause the believer to conduct himself in humility in the local church (vv. 3-8). Paul meets two dangers that the individual faced in the exercise of his spiritual gifts. He might overestimate himself and try to exercise a gift God never gave him. Or he might underestimate himself and fail to exercise the gift God has given to him. Paul shows that God has given each believer specific gifts to enable him to do what God wants him to do. No one is excluded.
Humility allows us to properly exercise our gifts and humility keeps us in the right attitude as we serve God. As we live and serve with humility, God will exalt us in due time.
Micah 6:6-8; Romans 12:3
By Dr. R. J. Lightsey II
The Random House College Dictionary defines “humility” as the qualities or conditions of being humble; a modest sense of one’s own importance; lowliness, meekness.
There are many times when the children of God don’t act with humility. Too often, we draw attention to ourselves (and that‘s usually when we are not acting to the best of our God-given ability), and we strive to be the center of attraction. We feel that if we are not noticed or recognized, we are being mistreated. We often forget that it’s not about us. It’s about Jesus. I hope this message will remind us that it’s all about Jesus and also remind us that we must humble ourselves in all we do and God will exalt us as He sees fit.
Micah 6:6-8: “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, oh man, what is good: and what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
The purpose of Micah’s prophecy is to face the people with their sins and to speak the word of God’s judgment that must come because of their persistent sinning. Micah completes the purpose of his book by ending each discourse with a word about restoration, which will only come as a result of confession of sin. In the verses above, Micah points out the requirements of the Lord as they relate to the “proper” way to come before Him. Bowing before God and bringing offerings (calves, rams, oil, your firstborn) are fine. However, the act of confession of sin and repentance must be accompanied with mercy (kindness) and humility. An important viewpoint of the Old Testament is that religious rituals void of spiritual reality and a life of total allegiance to a sovereign Lord is worthless. A sincere walk with God requires and demands humility.
Romans 12:3 – “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
The righteousness of God will cause the believer to conduct himself in humility in the local church (vv. 3-8). Paul meets two dangers that the individual faced in the exercise of his spiritual gifts. He might overestimate himself and try to exercise a gift God never gave him. Or he might underestimate himself and fail to exercise the gift God has given to him. Paul shows that God has given each believer specific gifts to enable him to do what God wants him to do. No one is excluded.
Humility allows us to properly exercise our gifts and humility keeps us in the right attitude as we serve God. As we live and serve with humility, God will exalt us in due time.
Comment
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Comment by God's Comedian LaSalle LaSalle on July 9, 2009 at 4:09am
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Amen! So very true about humility and serving God. Powerful and all need to read this WORD! God bless you always!
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