How would you define Humility?Here a few quotes to get things started:"True Humility dispenses with modesty" C.S. Lewisnote: "modesty" here is not a refrence to clothing.and one by yours truly:Humility is not thinking of your selfespecially low or high, it's asking "God what am I"' and beliving His reply.Are there times that a proud person looks humble and a humble person looks proud? How would you know the difference?
I think humility is the place of total dependence on God. Also,it might help to think about the opposite of humilty, pride.In Christ,Ron
Humility is the proper response to the presence of the divine (as in presence of God) and its influence upon the person. (I use influence as leading, instruction, enlightenment to the will of God etc...) A picture comes to mind here of a palm tree in a storm that yeilds to the wind. it actually bends to the desire of the wind :-)
Are there times that a proud person looks humble and a humble person looks proud? How would you know the difference?I think a person who compromises spiritually, ethically, or morally to avoid offending others can appear humble, while a Christian who can not find a way to bend to people's worldy expectations may, in some circumstances, be perceived as arrogant and self-righteous."Blessed is the man that trusteth in The Lord ... For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters"MC
"It is not sin that humbles us most, but grace.... If we are indeed to be humble, not only before God, but toward men - if humility is to be our joy - we must see that it is not just viewed as the mark of shame because of sin. It must be understood apart from all sin as a covering with the very beauty and blessedness of heaven and of Jesus." by Andrew MurrayDiane
Humility is a matter of esteem. How do you see yourself? Are you a legend in your own mind, or do you see yourself as being nothing but "white trash?" Both are evidences of pride, the latter simply being a false humility. Humility is esteeming yourself, seeing yourself, as God sees you, nothing more, and nothing less.
hi, christian humility is the realization that Jesus is the only good thing that we have going for us and that He is the only reason we are ever used of God.it is impossible to be humble and critical at the same time.it is impossible to think that we must fast, read the bible, pray, give alms(as wonderful as these things are) to earn closeness to God.we must realize that Christ did nothing on his own;but he was lead by His Father.the two men in the temple are the best teaching for me on humility; one said i thank my God i am not like this other man (critical) the other said have mercy on me a sinner. which one left justified? when we read of paul and his terse directives towards the errors and sins in the churches he was writing to; do we realize that he was writing to those he was directly responsible for as their spiritual father. they were the fruit of his labor and his children in the faith; he has a right to disipline them where we try to diliine even our own fathers in the faith.ego... jimp
I think you need to study the life of Moses to understand humble in God's term.Numbers 12:3"(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)"
jimp wow, that was pretty loaded. Are you bringing something over from another post?Paul rebuked Peter, he was not his spiritual father nor did he have any "authority" to do so. I believe he demonstrated humility by not considering his own inability but rather Gods Truth. Moses, got rebuked for talking his inabilty and lack of position. God chooses the things that are not to nullify the things that are. The more unqualified and useless you tend to think someone or something is the more likely it is that God will use them so that when He's done you say "Hey i know that guy, he's a loser, that MUST have been Jesus." Jesus rebuked those who were "over" him, so did John the Baptist so did all the prophets, it's not Pride if you're right. Remember David? Rebuking his older brothers? Yes he never tried to KILL saul but he never said what he did was right either. Besides where do we get the idea that our relationship to pastors in the NT is the same thing as Davids to Saul? I dont think it's humble to submit to a false interpretation of Scripture. False shepherds teach that (david-saul)concept alot to keep their godly sheep under their ravenous teeth. Why do people admire those who submit to abuse from false shepherds? I dont understand that.
hi, i did not know that you knew me (loser). Jesus rebuked the spirit of the phar.,sad., scribes who were hyper-critical and none were "over"Him;but when confronted spoke not a word.moses struck the rock,david sinned against God, paul corredted peter because of his interferance with pauls gentile converts. i thank you for your incite in how it must be Jesus.lol jimp everybody thinks they are right,including me.
Great question. I have come to understand humility much differently over the past year or so. Quote:"Are there times that a proud person looks humble and a humble person looks proud? How would you know the difference?"I don't think we can be sure to know the difference apart from, possibly, specific revelation from God. And to presume to know seems dangerous because it seems like judging people's hearts. Check out Daniel 4:28-37.Was King Nebuchadnezzar humble or proud when he said,"At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me."How would you have judged him?
Was King Nebuchadnezzar humble or proud when he said,"At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me."How would you have judged him? Well if what he said was true then i guess he wouldnt have been being proud. I mean it's ok to recognize that you have splendor and majesty as long as you know who gave it to you. That's what the C.S. Lewis quote was about when he said humility dispenses with modesty. If you're good at something it sure seems more modest to say "God has blessed me to do this", than to say "no i'm really not that good at it".If you were a wealthy person it would be right to say "It is God who gives me the power to get wealth" than to say "I'm really not that wealthy, Bill Gates, well there goes a wealthy guy!"Some things just sound proud to the religious mind like:Isn't it interesting to note that Moses was the one who wrote he was the most humble man on the earth?Jesus said he was humble and lowly in heart. His Spirit wrote that by the way. I mean, The Pharasiees were offended because Jesus claimed to be God. Well...that's pretty offensive...unless it's true.
Good points sj. I guess I'm not clear on the Lewis quote. Quote:"If you're good at something it sure seems more modest to say "God has blessed me to do this", than to say "no i'm really not that good at it".If you were a wealthy person it would be right to say "It is God who gives me the power to get wealth" than to say "I'm really not that wealthy, Bill Gates, well there goes a wealthy guy!"What if I just said, "Thank you" when someone told me I'm good at something? Or what if I just said, "I have the power to get wealth" or "my ability to get wealth is great"? Could I still be humble and talk like that?I like your points about Moses and Jesus.
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