Bible Study: Humility Is a Biblical Virtue

Humility Is a Biblical Virtue: Being on God’s Promotion Plan
 
Psalm 57:5 (KJV)
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
 
 Matthew 5:5 (ESV)
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
 
Luke 14:7-11 (ESV)
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

​​Just as In Luke 14, God notices those who take high places of honor where and when they do not deserve them.
 
I challenge you with the following question:
Would you walk into a major bank corporate office as an entry level employee and sit down at the CEO’s desk without being invited?
 A: You would most likely lose your job that day in response unless you had very good reasons for being there.


There are three major principles within the scriptures outlined in this week’s Bible study that I would like to point out:

1. Trying to be God by determining what is right vs. wrong based on what you want it to be instead of using God’s Word as the standard is not being humble, it is actually the opposite. It is living in rebellion. We have exalted ourselves long enough and now God is humbling us in order to restore things back to the way they should be.  If he has to use economic, political, social, religious, or even physical means; His will must be done. Remaining humble is the key to not thinking that your sin is less offensive than the next brother's  
The Western world has embraced freedom, even indulging in sin to the point that we are no longer free, but in bondage to that sin.

• Now, we are being humbled for exalting our place above His as we have lost much of our wealth as countries, jobs have disappeared, and our people perish (mostly because they lack a vision as the scripture tells us). We have surely been humbled and may continue on this path if we do not repent from the sins of our self-exaltations.

 
The great news is that once we are in a humbled state, we can begin to gain back the trust of the Lord. He can then exalt us if He so chooses or continue to put us in our places.
 
Part of being humble is being self-less rather than selfish.

• My pastor and church leadership is an excellent example of this display of this. Many times at homecoming dinners my pastor and our leadership help serve or wait for everyone else to be served before getting in the food line. On Sunday mornings visitors are treated as VIP’s. The smallest changes in our habits and attitude turn us from self-focused to servant-evangelism driven.

 

  2. Being humble may also mean serving God in any capacity.In God’s Kingdom, our man made      structure of what we consider important roles are non-existent. The clean-up crew is needed just as the worship team, choir, children’s ministers, or associate pastor.
 
Accept your role that God gives you in ministry. It’s often difficult, but He will exalt you when the need and timing arises. I am preaching to myself on this as well. I have often wrestled with God over the timing of my service to him in many capacities. I have asked Him many questions that were above my understanding. Each step of the way has taught me something that I have used in the next phase of my service to God’s Kingdom.
 
Many of the most powerful men in the world started within the most humble positions.

• Steve Jobs began working on and building computers at home
• Bill Gates created Microsoft with partner in a basement
• Ben Carson grew up poor in a single parent home and has ran for president and even works now as part of the President’s Cabinet. The Evangelical church now views Ben Carson as a political spokesman and leader in his field.
• Pastor A.W. Tozer grew up poor, uneducated, and illiterate but died a successful pastor and well known theological/spiritual author. His books are now read in homes and seminaries all over the country.

We could come up with unlimited names of men who were humble and God made them into someone.
Instead of being selfish or arrogant, we should encourage God’s Will, guidance, humbleness, and meekness. With this we should also work according to God’s timing and not ours.
You may start out serving God on the cleaning crew, but in 20 years you may be the pastor or still on the cleaning crew. Wherever and whenever God calls us to be….be there.
The rewards that we are storing up for the jobs we are doing are not in or of this world. Don’t think for one second that there will not be some highly rewarded clean-up crews and lay people in heaven. Store up treasures where they will matter which is in heaven. We cannot take our earthly possessions with us to Glory, but we will be bestowed with crowns which mark our spiritual achievements and works to be placed at the feet of Jesus for His glory. Everything we are doing here now is for the glory of the Lord and the advancement of His Kingdom and that is reward enough for me by itself.

​Join us today in seeking God’s will for your life. Choose your humble place, so that God may exalt you to places you could never imagine. 

3.  Exalting God above ourselves brings order to our lives, families, and everything you touch. In order for life systems on earth to function there must be that present structure and leadership. That “God force” is the center of everything, even the nucleus of our cells. This order is necessary for Harmony not only in our lives, but for the very existence or function of that system.When that system gets out of order, so do its functions and elements.
When wives have to do the jobs of the husbands, when entry level workers have to be the boss, and when our will takes the place of God’s things are surely out of order.

As made clear through Biblical teaching, God should be the head of the family, followed by the husband, wife, then children. One is not more important than the other, but rather all have their function, purpose, and role in that family unit. 
 
When things are dysfunctional, so are the relationships surrounding them. Are you wondering why your home or marriage are in disarray? It may be because your relationship systems are out of order, or maybe even that your relationship with the bridegroom himself (Jesus) is out of order. We must first get things right with Him and He will provide plenty of guidance on how to get those other situations in our lives under control.
For guidance on the structure of the family and home, look no further than the Word of God. Also, for smaller issues such as time priorities, discipline, and boundaries the same applies.
 
 
 
We pray that this Bible study has been a blessing to you. If so, take the time to tell us about it at Salvationscall@gmail.com or Salvationscall.org. For more information on how to become a believer in Christ or what the Gospel is, visit us at http://www.salvationscall.org/gospel.html . Thank you and God Bless!