Oh Lord, It's Hard to be Humble!
Mac Davis (picture from www.alanmercer.com)
Mac Davis (picture from www.alanmercer.com)Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait to look in the mirror 'cause I get better lookin' each day.
I can't wait to look in the mirror 'cause I get better lookin' each day.
In this day of self assertion humiltiy is not a popular theme. We hear so much more about how important it is to assert ourselves. It is much more popular to look out for number one. We don't hear the message Paul was preaching in Philippians 2:3-4 quite so often anymore.
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. (NIV)
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. (NIV)
Paul goes on to tell us in verses 5-8 that this is the attitude that was in Christ our Lord.
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! (NIV)
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! (NIV)
There are times when the path of humility is difficult to follow. That is especially true when your rightful authority is questioned. Think again of Moses when his leadership was questioned by his brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam. The Bible says in Numbers 12:3:
Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble
than anyone else on the face of the earth. (NIV)
than anyone else on the face of the earth. (NIV)
Come on; I know what would go through our minds if we were faced with a circumstance like this. At least I know what I would probably be thinking. "You guys have certainly blown it now! Now you're really going to get it!" Then when judgment came upon them, we'd probably be thinking, "Hey, don't look at me! I warned you. Now, you're getting what you deserve, so don't look to me for pity!" But that's not how Moses responded. In Numbers 12:13 we read:
So Moses cried out to the LORD,
"O God, please heal her!" (NIV)
"O God, please heal her!" (NIV)
On other occassions when the Hebrews had rebelled against his leadership he interceded for them, even asking God to blot him out with them in Exodus 32:31-32.
So Moses went back to the LORD and said,
"Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!
They have made themselves gods of gold. But now,
please forgive their sin—but if not,
then blot me out of the book you have written." (NIV)
"Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!
They have made themselves gods of gold. But now,
please forgive their sin—but if not,
then blot me out of the book you have written." (NIV)
These people certainly had not honored Moses as God's chosen leader. In fact they had dishonored him as they returned to their old ways.
God always resists the proud according to James 4:6.
That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (NIV)
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (NIV)
No, humilty is not the easy way. Like the first line in Mac's song, "Lord, it's hard to be humble." Sure it's not easy, but we can do the best that we can. The high road seldom is an easy road, but it is the right road, if we would be like Chirst. Today, I want to challenge you to humble yourself before God and see what God will do! You will be amazed! James says it this way in James 4:10:
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up. (KJV)
and he shall lift you up. (KJV)
Hey, Have a blessed day as you let God lift you up today.
1 comment:
There is another level to this message about Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Satan used those who were the closest to him and knew him the best. He used his own biological family and also his closest spiritual family in which to attack and try and wield a lethal blow to what God had called and chosen him to do. God called a family meeting and vindicated Moses. He also punished Miriam. Moses prayed for Miriam as you mentioned. But before Moses could pray he had to forgive both of them. James 5:16 states “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” There were two healing when Moses prayed that day the first came from forgiving. God healed his wounded spirit. Second is a by-product of the first and Miriam was healed.
Words are stronger than deeds many times, because they cause wounds to the heart and spirit of a person. But Moses set a prime example on how to overcome not only family problems but leadership problems which can wound the spirit of God’s people. Learning to walk in forgiveness and love toward each other is one of the hardest most costly lesson. Yet it reaps great rewards.
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