Before Honour is Humility
The natural tendency of man is to be proud and arrogant. This manner
of behavior displeases God. He calls on us to humble ourselves.
Humility is the opposite of pride. Honour is the exalted state of Man
when his actions please God. It is impossible to please God when our
fleshly desires go against what the bible teaches.
Lets start by stating the facts in scripture. Proverbs is a good
place to start.
Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord
hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A
proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed
innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that be swift in running to
mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies,
and he that soweth discord among brethren.
We are presented with seven things God hates. And notice that a proud
look is listed first. God calls it an abomination. The other six items
are all pertaining to the fleshly desires of man. Our focus is pride,
so the other items on the list will be for another day. Lets look at
some other scriptures about pride so we understand the point.
Psalms 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour,
him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and
a proud heart will not I suffer.
Proverbs 15:25 The Lord will destroy the house of
the proud: but he will establish the border of the
widow.
Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is
an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in
hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and
an haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and
the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
II Timothy 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last
days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away. For of this
sort are they which creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins, led away with
divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come
to the knowledge of the truth.
Timothy really hammers the point home! If the scriptures aren't making
us uneasy then maybe we need to read them again. God wants us to know
that anything that glorifies self rather than Him should be abased.
Abased means "to be brought low". The opposite of abased is exalted.
Understand that when we feel proud or prideful in ourselves around
others, God looks at this with concern. In a sense we are putting down
our human counterparts by placing ourselves above them. This is the
true nature of the flesh. While we might not think it is a big deal,
God has made it clear in scripture that he is no respecter of persons.
We must analyze our behaviors towards others. Is what we are doing
right in the sight of God? Is it causing others ill feelings or hurt?
It might be a good idea to use some humility even if our instinct is
to build ourselves up.
Now lets look at scripture from the correct aspect of humility instead
of a proud heart.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction
of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man
is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord
are riches, and honour, and life.
I Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves
unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to
another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble.
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing
one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so
also do ye.
It isn't easy to change our fleshly tendencies. We all have a desire
to be competitive and strong willed. Some of us have gone through life
being put down by others. Many more have been abused and betrayed. God
understands what you are going through. There isn't anyone outside of
the love of God. Our aim in life is to please God at all costs.
There will be a reward in the end. Paul summarizes our discussion with
a very important teaching from scripture.
II Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted
above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be
exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the
Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for
when I am weak, then am I strong.
God wants us to be humble. We need to be broken before Him and not
lifted up. When we exalt ourselves we bear record that we don't
believe what God said in his word. A few final scriptures to conclude
this message.
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of
of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite
spirit.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou
wilt not despise.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the
earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek
righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be
hid in the day of the Lord's anger.
Luke 14:10-11 But when thou art bidden, go and sit
down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee
cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher:
then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them
that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth
himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted.
Written by Mark Dickens 05/27/2022