Can I even ask that question if I’m humble?

Does being humble mean I don’t speak much? If so, I don’t stand a chance at ever being humble.

Does being humble mean I quietly do everything people ask of me? Oops. If that’s the case I think I have been humble only a few times in 50 years.

Does being humble mean I have no opinions? If that is true, woe is me, for I am filled with arrogance and self-centeredness!

I want to propose to you this definition of humility. Humility is obeying God when He asks you to do something.

Pretty simple eh? Only until God asks you to do something you don’t want to do.

How do I know if I’m Humble? Do you obey God’s voice? Do you obey Him when it costs you something? If you answer yes, you are humble.

Humility is the act of recognizing someone else’s opinion as more valuable than yours and following it.

Humility is the act of recognizing someone else’s authority as more important than yours and submitting to it.

Humility is not quietness, not having no opinions, and not always listening and never speaking.

Humility is having your own opinions, seeing your own value, having a voice; but choosing God’s opinions, values, and voice when they are different than yours. Have you done that lately? Then you are walking in humility in those areas.

After realizing this definition of humility I finally understand a verse that has perplexed me for years:

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

 I often thought it was God’s job to humble me but according to this passage I am to humble myself. Here’s another one confirming this:

1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

If humility is putting down my desires and following the desires of God then it makes sense that I have to humble myself. God never makes us obey Him.

This week I challenge myself and all of you to humble yourselves. You can dress up in a burlap bag and throw dirt on your heads if you wish, I am simply going to do my best to follow God whether I want to or not.

May the obedient – I mean humble – arise!