Some think that humility is walking around sad and depressed, they share their gratitude towards God, because He loves a "worthless nobody" like them. However that is is not true humility. The Bible does not describe us as "worthless nobodies". As the little boy said: "I am made by God and God does not make junk."
Let's take a look and see what real humility is and what it means that God accept's/loves us.
| You are greatly valued: From the first chapters of Genesis to the last chapter Revelation, the Bible stresses that God places high value on man. In the first chapter of Genesis we are told that we are created in God's image. The book of Psalms describes us as being "crowned with glory and majesty." The last chapter of Revelation tells us we will spend eternity with God. | |
| You have a Royal Heritage: We are the result of a creative genius: God! The Bible says we are created a "Little lower than the angels". We are created by the hand of God, reflecting His likeness. (Gen 1:26). In the New Testament James warns people not to curse others, as they are created in the image of God. Paul calls the Corinthians made in the image of God's glory. That's interesting as these Corinthians were far from perfect. | |
| You are the apex of Creation: The book of Genesis records the order of creation. It starts with the Heaven and the Earth. The sun, seas, fish, fowl, animals of the field. After everything was created God declared it "good". After creating all these things, God created again: Man who could share with God - thoughts, feelings, love, friendship. We are the apex, climax of God's creation. He called us "very good!" | |
| You have a Kingly Calling: God created man and gave them dominion over the earth. "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and every living thing." In the words of a commentator: These words declare the human race' noble calling for cultural achievements, inventions, discoveries, the sciences and arts, refinement and enobling, in short - advance of the human mind are the will of God. | Genesis 1:28 |
| You are a "Pearl of great Price." Jesus sat at the seaside, teaching. He used the pearl to illustrate what He was saying. "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went and sold everything he had and bought it." In Jesus' illustration, the pearl is the child of God. He chose an object of great worth to communicate the value He places on us. He later proved what He had said: We were redeemed not with perishable things, but with a great price: The precious blood of Jesus Christ. | |
| You have celestial guardians: The psalmist David writes: "For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you upon their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone." There are over 250 references in the Bible over angels. These make it clear that God has appointed angels to take care of us. | |
| You've got a mansion in Heaven: Shortly before Jesus was crucified, he adressed His disciples: "There are many rooms in my Father's house; ...... I am going there to prepare a place for you.......... and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Man, created in God's image, to glorify Him and to receive His love and fellowship, will be restored to his original perfection. Transformed into God's image, we will spend eternity in fellowship with Him. | |
| You are "Worth Your Salt": Jesus affirmed the value, importance and worth of every person. He said: "You are the salt of the earth." and "You are the light of the world" and "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" | |
| A Biblical self-respect is not superiority: Superiority is the attitude "Our way is better than your way", this maybe related to financial resouces, appearance, athletics, position, status or even our christian experience. This type of superiority is what the Bible calls pride: "Puffed up", "Inflated", "Haughty" and it is a proud arrogant, over-estimation of oneself. Beneath this proud exterior is usually a frightened feeling of inadequacy. | |
| A Biblical self-respect is not Self-Centered: Instead of being absorbed by "Self", true humility makes God the center. This leads to: Being able to look beyond oneself and caring for others more than for oneself. | 1 Cor 13:5 |
| A Biblical-self-image is based on (1): Valuing ourselves as equally important members of God's creation. Declaring yourself a "nobody" contradicts what the Bible says about you. The Bible teaches that God uses different people with different gifts. He is using you today in a special way. We are all created with unique personalities and talents. Each of us have been chosen, to fullfill a unique aspect of His ministry. So we do not need to compete with others around us to prove our worth. Also having different gifts or talents does not make someone more or less valuable. | 1 Cor 12 |
| A Biblical-self-image is based on (2): Seeing ourselves as image bearers of God. Underneath all our sin, temptation, and confusion, the image/likeness of God in us exists. | |
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A Biblical-self-image is based on (3): Seeing ourselves as objects of divine love. Shortly beforfe Christ was crucified, he said to his disciples: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." In other words, Christ loves us in the same way, the Father loves Him! Think of the depth of that love! |
John 15:9 |
| True humility is to following Christ: We, who are highly esteemed by God- and feel secure in Him, can set aside our own interests for the benefits of others. That is true humility! | Phil 2:3-13 |
Digging Deeper:
Love your self by Walter Trobisch
You're Someone Special by Bruce Narramore
