Have you considered that one of the best gifts we can give ourselves—AND give others—is a steady attitude of humility? Humility is powerful because it gives us a strong sense of the presence of God. The Bible says:
“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is HOLY: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a CONTRITE and HUMBLE spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’”
Isaiah 57:15
Our omnipotent, omniscient, loving God makes His dwelling place within the heart of the humble!
Wowza! As born again believers, we EACH have this REMARKABLE opportunity. But to possess the gift of humility, we must have an attitude of complete dependence upon God. Our pride robs us of God’s presence.
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Proverbs 3:34
The gift of humility is not about hating yourself or being self-deprecating. Rather, it is a mindset of being “others-centered” instead of “self-centered.” This mindset is IMPOSSIBLE unless we are GOD-centered; meaning we love God with ALL our heart, soul, and mind. As God becomes our center, HE is our source of love and—we can afford to give freely to others—without any selfish expectation. This happens when we have ALL we need in God and do not depend on the appreciation, affirmation, resources, or recognition of others.
Loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind produces the purest self-sacrifice.
Humility is a multifaceted gift because it benefits us AND it benefits others. Humility engages us in the type of mindset to give God ALL our burdens and thus allows us to be FREE to bear the burdens of others.
Like we talked about yesterday, Jesus COMMANDED us to give Him our burdens.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:31-34
It is only our pride that tells us we can take things into our own hands, which then makes us incapable of helping anyone else. So when we feel so weighed down with our own problems that we’re incapable of helping anyone else, we need to check our pride. Have we taken back our burdens?
What a GIFT humility is! It walks us into the presence of God, and it allows HIM to carry our burdens for us! Even when we may be suffering terribly—when God is carrying our burdens—HIS supernatural power allows us to engage in bearing the burdens of others. Isaiah reminds us:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31
2 Responses
God is self sustaining and all we need.
Amen