Humility Study: Part IX - False Humility

Colossians 2:6-23
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

I guess to study out what humility is, it is good to see what it is not. False humility is about showmanship. Or to put is another way, it is to look good for a crowd. And I want to say that vanity is a big part of the US culture. Actually, I think it just might be a part of any culture, in one form or another. Worship of angels is considered false humility. It actually disqualifies you from the prize. False humility is self-imposed worship, it conveys a message that people need to act like me (or you) in order to be a more spiritual person. They lack self-restraint. I personally struggle with self-restraint. Currently, I am fasting (I say this matter of factly, not to gloat or anything) and it is teaching me a valuable lesson in self-restraint. And self-restraint builds humility. How? By relying on God instead of the pleasures of this world.

Humility Study: Part VIII - The Humble Cross

Philippians 2:1-11

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I would have to say that when someone thinks about humility and a needs to see a scripture in regards to humility, this is the scripture to go to. "In humility, consider others better than yourself." Christ himself humbled himself to become obedient to a death on the cross. He became obedient to the flogging. And he did it to not glorify himself, but to glorify God. And by doing so, he showed that he wasn't thinking of himself at all, but of you and me. He went to that cross to take away my sins. And yours. And it is written that I should live a life like Christ. Does that mean I should go to the cross? Yes. Or at least have a life that shows that I would do such a thing. I can't take your sins away. That action has, in a sense, been done by Christ. The only way to attain such forgiveness is to repent and be baptized, if you haven't already done so...

Humility Study: Part VII

Acts 20:17-24
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."

"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

What I like about Paul is that he is not afraid to tell it like it is. He seved with "great humility". He preached from house to house. He preached about faith in Jesus Christ. And he didn't hesitate to preach. He said that his task was to testify to the gospel of God's grace.

How humble was Paul? Well, he considered his life worth NOTHING. Which begs the question, how much do I consider my life is worth? If it is worth something, then I am not completely humble.

Humility Study: Part VI - Humble Shelter

Zephaniah 1:14-2:3
"The great day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth." Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD's wrath comes upon you. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

Another list...

• Seek the LORD
• Seek righteousness
• Seek humility

Things that may cause shelter from God's anger would be seeking the LORD, seeking righteousness and seeking humility.

Humility Study: Part V - Wages

Proverbs 22
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Those who sow injustice reap calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful. The sluggard says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!" The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD's wrath falls into it. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. Those who oppress the poor to increase their wealth and those who give gifts to the rich—both come to poverty. Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life. Do not make friends with the hot-tempered, do not associate with those who are easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. Do you see those who are skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Humility: If you are humble, you get "paid" in wealth, in honor, and in life. Now, wealth and honor are pretty straight forward. But peing paid "life", well that is a new one. I am sure that it is meaning eternal life.

Let's see...

Life (chay - pronounced: khah'ee)

• Alive; hence raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively: age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life (lifetime), live (lively), living (creature, thing), maintenance, merry, multitude, (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

Humility (‛ănâvâh - pronounced: an-aw-vaw')

• Condescension, human and subjective (modesty), or divine and objective (clemency): gentleness, humility, meekness.

Condescension (noun):

• An act or instance of condescending.
• Behavior that is patronizing or condescending.
• Voluntary assumption of equality with a person regarded as inferior.
• Do something that one considers to be below one's dignity.
• Debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way.

I just don't think that God would want me to exhibit condescension toward another person. Something about the word just doesn't sit right with me.

Clement (adjective):

• Mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate.