The Reason for Humility

As Christians, it can be a real temptation to obey God, not simply because of His commands, but because we derive some type of pragmatic benefit from that obedience. For instance, we may choose to water others because we ourselves want to be watered (Proverbs 11:25). When we do unto others, it is our expectation to have them to do unto us (Luke 6:31). What should be our real reason for following the commandments of Christ?

Throughout the scriptures we are given insights into God’s character through the person of Jesus Christ. We see that He is loving, joyful, gracious, merciful, kind, and longsuffering, just to mention a few. When we have the Holy Spirit living within, He is committed to bringing us into this image of God; after all, we are to be His image bearers to the world. So it is with humility.

Philippians 2 is perhaps the greatest commentary on the humility:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

–Phil. 2:5-8 (ESV)

The point is obvious. If we are to be Christ-like, we too are to demonstrate the character trait of humility and encourage our children to pursue the same. It is not about what we get from it. We are to simply strive to reflect Jesus.

The question is, “How do we grow in humility?” It seems like in many verses that humility is simply expected of Christians:

• Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.–James 4:10
• Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.–1 Peter 3:8

Do we then simply make the choice to be humble? Is the work of us? I think not. We need a revelation of how undeserving we are of salvation and God’s subsequent blessings. When this becomes a reality, humility should automatically be stirred up within and this should produce a spirit of gratitude. Where there is no gratitude there can be no humility for gratitude is founded upon the understanding that we received something of which we did not deserve.

Since Christ is the first cause of all things, the prayer and fast focus for the month of September will be focused on obtaining and demonstrating humility in our lives and in the lives of our children.

1. Pray that our children and we will realize the tremendous debt we owe to God and our inability to pay even the paltriest sum to purchase our salvation.

• So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.–Matt. 18:26,27
• by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.–Col. 2:14

2. Pray that God will give us an understanding heart to increasingly grasp the fact that God Himself condescended to become flesh to obtain our salvation and what that example means to us in our daily lives.

• Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.–Phil. 2:5-8

3. Pray that we will teach our children that always comparing ourselves to others is unwise and a sign of pride. We should be comparing ourselves to the demands of the law, which reveal how desperately we need His grace. Anytime we focus on what others are doing, we get our eyes off of Christ.

• But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.–2 Cor. 10:12

4. Pray that we and our children and we will be able to detect manifestations of pride in our lives regardless of how small they are

• The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ¹⁰ “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”–Jer. 17:9,10
• Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!–2 Cor. 13:5

5. Pray that we homeschoolers will not take pride in homeschooling, seeing it as the final solution, but that we will understand it is simply an opportunity to spend more time with our children to point them to Jesus Christ who is the end of all things.

• And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,–Hebrews 5:9
• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.–John 14:6

6. Pray that our children will have a genuine heart of service, not giving for what they get out of it.

• But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.–Luke 6:35
• For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. –1 Thes. 2:9

7. Pray that our children and we will realize the innate dangers of pride.

• When pride comes, then comes disgrace…–Proverbs 11:2
• Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.–Proverbs 16:18

8. Pray that in their humility our children will recognize their deep need of Christ in all their endeavors.

• I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.—John 15:5
• But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.–Job 5:15

9. Pray that our children, while not being motivated by benefit, will nevertheless experience the subsequent blessings of walking in humility.

• One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.–Proverbs 29:23
• “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.–Matt. 5:5
• Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.–James 4:10

10. Pray that in our humility the glory of God will be the main motivation for all that we do.

• So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.–1 Cor. 10:31
• Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. –Phil. 2:3