Humility

James 4:6 (ESV)

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Corrie Ten Boom tells this story in her book, Each New Day. "When I saw Sadhu Sundar Singh in Europe, he had completed a tour around the world. People asked him, Doesn't it do harm, you're getting so much honor?" The Sadhu's answer was: "No. The donkey went into Jerusalem, and they put garments on the ground before him. He was not proud. He knew it was not done to honor him, but for Jesus, who was sitting on his back. When people honor me, I know it is not me, but the Lord, who does the job."

Another wise person once said, "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion. But really great men have a ... feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them."

We too, should strive to live knowing that the greatness is through us and give God all the glory He deserves! Lord, help us! We need to empty ourselves of our desires and our agendas, and be available for all the works He wants to do through us!

Dear Lord, we want to live our life honoring You in everything! Thank you for loving us and helping us along the way -- in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Great big dog and pride.

Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

Pride goes before destruction,

    a haughty spirit before a fall.

Simon was a rascal. A great big, handsome brute of a dog who loved to get the best of you. Gentle with children, wily with adults. His owner’s pride often took a fall while walking him as he never knew when he would decide to take advantage of a moment's inattentiveness. He would be strolling along enjoying their daily walk, proud of being able to handle his big fellow on the end of the leash, when suddenly when in mid-stride, he would bolt.

Many a neighbor was left howling with laughter as they witnessed him being jerked into the air behind Simon, while hanging onto his leash for dear life as his feet hit the pavement on the fly and directed him to the nearest telephone pole where he could fling his arms around it in order to bring them both to a screeching halt. But this was only the beginning of their enjoyment and his continued lesson in learning the art of humility. For the next step involved picking the splinters out of the side of his face that hit the pole, while trying to look nonchalant about the whole affair in order to save the small scrap of what was left of his pride and dignity.

Humility is a hard lesson to learn. It is a necessary one however, for as the Scriptures tell us, pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. And how our enemy the devil loves to see the destruction and fall of our plans, our spirits and our relationships.

Much like Simon, the evil one is always prowling around waiting and watching for those moments of inattentiveness in our lives as Christians. Moments when we take our eyes off Jesus, His will and way, to covet our own. At such times, if we are not quick to recognize and reverse our folly, our spiritual feet can be yanked out from beneath us in the blink of an eye, leaving us feeling humiliated in front of friends, family, and most especially our Lord.

Simon was simply a rascal who loved a bit of fun. Satan however is our arch enemy whose purpose is to destroy the works and will of God in his people. So look out! Be attentive! Stay focused on Jesus and you won't be left trying to nonchalantly remove the splinters of spiritual humiliation from your spirit and memory at the end of the day.

Dear Lord, we love your humility which led you to lay aside your kingly crown for a time that you might come to earth and dwell among us. Teach us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

Being Humbled

Luke 14:11 (NIV) 

    For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

A famous football coach was on vacation with his family in Maine. When they walked into a movie theater and sat down, the handful of people there applauded. He thought to himself, "I can't believe it. People recognize me all the way up here." Then a man came over to him and said, "Thanks for coming. They won't start the movie for less than ten people."

Ouch! That'll deflate his ego in a hurry. That's the trouble with thinking you're somebody important -- not everyone is as convinced of that as you are! I heard about one man who was hesitant to go on vacation. When someone at work told him, "Don't worry. We can get by without you here for a while.", his response was, "I know, I know. I just don't want anybody else to find that out!"

Humility. One of the most difficult-to-find traits in our society. And one of the most important traits in the eyes of God. How often we try to raise our esteem in the eyes of men when we ought to be showing our willingness to lower ourselves.

"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:8-11)

Look for an opportunity today to take a "lower seat."

Dear Lord, thank You for the gifts You have given to us. Help us have a spirit of humility knowing that they are from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sleeping on the Floor with Mission Recruits

Psalm 25:9 (NIV)

He guides the humble in what is right

    and teaches them his way.

When I was at Moody Bible Institute I worked in the dish room to help pay for school. One afternoon an older gentleman walked through the dining room where I was working and stopped and shuck my hand and shook my hand and thanked me for the job I was doing. That man was Dr. Francis Schaeffer. The following story brought that moment back to my memory.

Back in 1966, Doug joined an organization called Operation Mobilization for a year of ministry in France. While in London for training, he volunteered to work on a cleanup crew late one night in preparation for a conference that was to begin the next day.

Around 12:30 Am, as Doug swept the front steps of a building, an older gentleman approached and asked if he was in the right place for the conference. Doug assured him he was. "The man had a small bag with him and was dressed very simply," recalls Doug. "I told him I would see if I could find him a place to sleep."

The place Doug found was the room where he had been sleeping on the floor with about 50 others. Laying some padding and a blanket on the floor, he handed the man a towel for a pillow. The stranger thanked Doug and began preparing for bed. Doug asked him if he had eaten.

"No," the man said, "I've been traveling all day"

The two went together to the dining room, where Doug found Corn Flakes, milk, bread, butter, and jam. As they ate, the man expressed his gratitude and told how he and his wife had been working in Switzerland mainly with hippies and travelers.

Upon awaking the next morning, Doug discovered that the man he'd been sharing Corn Flakes with, the man he had accommodated on a cold, hard floor, was none other than the conference speaker, Dr. Francis Schaeffer, one of the most famous Christians of the past century.

Doug smiles about it now. "I have since thought about this occasion many times," he says. "This gracious, kind, humble man of God sleeping on the floor with mission recruits! This was the kind of man I wanted to be."

I want to be that kind of man, how about you?

Dear Lord, we pray that we would have the heart to sleep on the floor with recruits. We pray for a humble heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Harry Lauder and Humility

Zephaniah 2:3 (NIV)

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.

Harry Lauder was born in 1870 in Portobello, Scotland. He orphaned at the age of 12 and had to take up work, first in a local flax mill, and later in a coalmine, before winning a talent contest that gained him entry to the music hall circuit. He formed his own touring company and eventually became the highest paid entertainer of his time. He wore a trademark kilt on stage, and always carried a crooked stick.

Lauder made his first visit to the USA in 1907, and was in Australia when World War I broke out. Whilst entertaining in London in 1917, he learned that his son had been killed in the fighting. Lauder continued to entertain the troops and launched a charitable "Million Pound Fund" to aid the war wounded. It was for this work that he was knighted in 1919. He continued entertaining until his seventies.

Once while in a concert in Chicago, Lauder sang to an overflowing audience. At the conclusion, the audience stood en masse, and applauded uproariously. After the applause subsided, the audience said in unison, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Showing splendid humility, Lauder replied, “Don’t thank me! Thank the good God who put the songs in my heart!”

We need to humbly acknowledge that it is God who works in our lives.

Dear Lord, we give this day to the You both the successes and the failures. Help us give You all the thanks and praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Dr. Carey's Saviour

Among those who visited Dr. Carey, the missionary, in his last illness was Alexander Duff, the Scotch missionary.



On one occasion he spent some time talking chiefly about Carey's missionary life, until the dying man whispered, "Pray." Duff knelt down and prayed and then said "Goodbye."


As he passed from the room, he thought he heard a feeble voice pronouncing his name, and turning, found that he was recalled. He stepped back accordingly, and this is what he heard, spoken with gracious solemnity: "Mr. Duff, you have been speaking about Dr. Carey! Dr. Carey! When I am gone say nothing about Dr. Carey—speak about Dr. Carey's Saviour."


Duff went away rebuked and awed, with a lesson in his heart that he never forgot.


May we all learn the lesson that Alexander Duff learned about humility and give all the credit to our Saviour.






He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.


- Psalm 25:9 (New International Version)






Dear Lord we pray that we will give you all the glory and credit. We pray that we will be humble in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.