Humility

"The funny thing about the human body is, that when you pat it on the back, it's head swells."-Kent, quoting a newspaper article

Last night it youth group, we talked about humility! Wow! First we discussed pride, and what is wrong with pride. Pride is praising yourself for something you've done, or have. For example we may be proud of our looks, or intelligence, or the country we're from. But why should we be proud, we should instead be giving all the praise and glory to God. We didn't decide that we should be born with good looks, or a smart brain, or even in the country we're from. So, we should be giving all the praise to God, which is humbling ourselves. 

Next we looked at some examples in the Bible of people who were humble. First was Moses,

"(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)"-Numbers 12:3

Wow! That sure says a lot about him! He didn't take it all to his head when someone said, "Wow! Moses! That rocked! You just split open the Red Sea!" He gave all the praise to God! Knowing that he was nothing. 

Second was Paul. He showed humility through everything he did! He never boasted about how he had 'this bruise from this, cause he's just so special'. No, he counted it all as nothing compared to the glory of God! He strived to serve and glorify God no matter what the cost! And in it all he humbled himself, showing everyone that he wasn't anyone special, it was God working through him!

Last, and definitely not least, Jesus Christ! He gave us the perfect example of humility!

"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."-Philippians 2:6-11

Something that Kent stated about Christ's humility, was that He deserved all the glory and honour, so when He humbled Himself, it wasn't like when we humble ourselves. When we humble ourselves, we realize that, "Whoops, I'm nothing without Christ! I need to be praising Him and giving Him all the glory instead of myself!" Yet, when Christ humbled Himself, He laid aside that glory and honour that was rightfully His! He put it aside for us! He came to earth as a man something so low, compared to what He was! And then if that wasn't enough, He came in the very nature of a servant, which we can see when He washed the disciples feet, and died for our sins! And finally He died a criminal's death, to save us all from the sin which we have committed! Wow! Praise the Lord that now He is at His rightful place, the highest place! And that one day every knee will bow to Him and give glory to God! 

After going through those examples, we turned to the question, "How can we be humble?" 

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2b

We need to be in fear, reverence, or awe, of God and Who He is! He created us! He designed where every molecule in this world would be place! He deserves all praise and glory! We shouldn't be praising ourselves, for what have we done that God didn't ordain, that He didn't create in us? He and only He deserves all praise!

To close it, Kent reminded us that we are nothing without Christ. He makes our hearts beat, our blood flow, our planet from colliding into the sun. We haven't done anything to be praised for. When people praise us we need to turn around and give the praise to God! For He is the One who deserves it!