Scripture To Consider:
Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
James 1:9-11
Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I think to understand the verse that James has shared with us we have to look at the root of "proud" vs. "humble". As Christians, we are called to lose pride and find humility.
What is prideful? Webster says: arrogant superiority; haughty; self-dignity or value; self-respect; an excessive high opinion of oneself.
What is humble? Webster says: meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude or spirit; not arrogant of prideful; submissive respect; unpretentious or lowly.
My understanding of pride is an inwardly expression in all our actions and in our communications with others. Without sounding prideful, which for me is impossible, I consider myself a former expert on the subject. Wow, now that sounds prideful! Why does pride come so easily to us and humility so difficult?
On the other hand, I consider myself a novice when it comes to humility. It seems to me that humble would be an exact opposite to pride and outwardly centered in our actions and communications with others- someone that is willing to put others before themselves in most every circumstance. Why is humility so difficult for us to obtain?
The funny thing is that I have actually heard people describe themselves as humble and thought to myself, "that was a very prideful description of humble". It is pretty obvious that pride and humility are on opposite spectrum's, just as the world and the Kingdom are separated by eternity.
It is only my opinion, but I believe that we have to look to the perfect source for humility, because humility is an elusive trait that can only come from one source. Where pridefulness of the world is plentiful for the taking, humility isn't something we can train ourselves up in. It comes from knowing the perfect and flawless example of humility - Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of the world.
Humility isn't a circumstance. Although what happens in life can humble us, circumstances by themselves don't create true humility. Humility isn't what happens to us, but what we are becoming and being transformed into. It isn't comprised by what surrounds us, but by what emerges within us. A poor, uneducated person can be proud while a respected, wealthy person may be humble. Humility is an attitude of the heart, affected by circumstances but not defined by them.
I once heard or read a wonderful statement of wisdom that stuck with me regarding humility: "As Christians, we are proud people pursuing humility continually by the grace of God... This is so true!
You know what I realized after (48) years, but not until the moment in time that God divinely allowed me to see it- we don't have to compare ourselves to others if we know who we are in Christ Jesus. Once God has revealed this to us, we no longer have the desire to be like someone else or have what someone else has. We are content, satisfied, fulfilled, and made complete in Christ. We are transformed and blessed with an outwardly desire to put others before ourselves. Pride begins to fade away with the world and humility begins to form its perfect place within us and in preparation for things unseen.
We no longer desire to be conformed by the things we see in the world - pride, greed, self-centeredness, arrogance, independence, but instead we are made to be Christ-centered by setting our minds on the things of above and through the renewing of our minds we are transformed for His greater purpose and glory.
We are children of the King and He has created us as His Masterpiece and Workmanship. God created us independently unique of each other and without comparison! All God asks of us is that we walk in who He created us to be and invest and sow the gifts He blessed us with, into the lives of others who have also been Divinely Created as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
WOW! I love God...
God's Truths, Promises & Instruction:
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."
1 John 2:16
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Romans 12:2
"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE; Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time."
1Peter 5:4-6
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."
John 15:12
