Humility
The Bible has a lot to say about humility. A lack of humility is pride, which displays itself in examining the sin of others without seeing it in our hearts first. Jesus confronted this sin of pride and hypocrisy in the religious leaders in Matthew 7:3-5…
“And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
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Paul and other writers of the New Testament encouraged the early biblical community to be clothed with humility and not think too highly of themselves. Why? God abhors pride because it drives a wedge between Him and us. He desires to be close to us and for us to draw near to Him. This requires cutting out pride and replacing it with humility. Humility makes us vulnerable to God and allows us to connect with Him and others.
1 Peter 5:5-7
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
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Romans 12:3
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
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HUMILITY IN ACTION
We are to have a right view of ourselves in light of who God is. This cultivates humility in our hearts and helps us love each other well.