Humbled by God: Cultivating True Humility in Christianity

Humbled by the Hand of God

Humility is a virtue that is highly regarded in Christianity. The Bible teaches that "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" (James 4:6). Many Christians aim to cultivate a posture of humility, but humility is not something that can be achieved through willpower alone. Rather, it is a gift that is received from God. In this article, we will explore the nature of humility and how God humbles us.

Humility: A Virtue to Be Cultivated

Humility is often described as a virtue that is opposed to pride. While pride exalts the self and seeks to be recognized and praised, humility is characterized by a willingness to serve others and to acknowledge one's own limitations and weaknesses. In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Humility is not something that can be achieved through self-effort alone. We cannot simply decide to be humble and then make it happen. However, there are certain practices that can help cultivate humility. For example, regular prayer, reading the Bible, and participating in community can help us to focus on God and others rather than ourselves. Additionally, we can seek out opportunities to serve others and to learn from those who are different from us.

God's Humbling Hand

While there are practices that can help cultivate humility, true humility is ultimately a gift from God. In the Bible, we see many examples of God humbling people. For example, in Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar is humbled by God when he is driven from his throne and forced to live like an animal. After experiencing this humiliation, Nebuchadnezzar declares: "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble" (Daniel 4:37).

God's humbling hand can take many forms. Sometimes it comes in the form of trials and suffering. In James 1:2-4, we read: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." When we face trials, we are forced to rely on God and to acknowledge our own weakness and need for Him.

God's humbling hand can also come in the form of correction. In Proverbs 3:11-12, we read: "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Sometimes God allows us to experience the consequences of our actions in order to teach us and to bring us back to Himself.

Responding to God's Humbling Hand

When we experience God's humbling hand, we have a choice to make. We can either resist Him and become even more prideful, or we can humble ourselves and submit to His will. In James 4:10, we read: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." When we humble ourselves before God, we acknowledge that He is the one who is in control and that we need Him.

Humility is not easy. It requires us to let go of our own desires and to submit to God's will. However, when we humble ourselves before God, He promises to exalt us. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus says: "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Conclusion

Humility is a virtue that is highly valued in Christianity. While there are practices that can help cultivate humility, true humility is ultimately a gift from God. God's humbling hand can take many forms, including trials, suffering, and correction. When we experience God's humbling hand, we have a choice to make. We can either resist Him and become even more prideful, or we can humble ourselves and submit to His will. When we humble ourselves before God, He promises to exalt us. May we all seek to cultivate humility in our lives and to submit to God's will for us.