Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. James 1:9–11 (ESV)
James 1 speaks to how God helps us to persevere the challenges of life with joy. God gives us some different assets. He gives us knowledge, wisdom, and faith. To go along with those three assets he also gives us humility.
The reality is many of our trials in life are the result of pride. Pride prevents us from asking for help and admitting our mistakes. Our stubbornness leads to trouble. There have been more than a few times where my pride kept me from asking for directions. The result was not pleasant.
I am reminded of Jesus, who said he did not come to be served but to serve. He was King but lived as a servant. He was rich but became poor. He was immortal but became mortal. Jesus is the great example of humility.
A relationship with Jesus creates a profound humility. We recognize that we are far worse off than we ever imagined. Many people see themselves as good people. They see themselves as deserving more from God. But the starting point of the Christian faith is desperation. I am without any claim or merit before God. I hold no worthiness. I deserve nothing other that his eternal punishment. I have nothing to presume before God.
The Book of Job is a great example of presumption before God. For the first 37 chapters of the book, Job and his friends ramble on as if they have figured out the mind and character of God. They go on to speak as if they were speaking for God. But in chapters 38-41 God himself sets the record straight. After Job truly encounters God he is overwhelmed and all he can say is:
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Job 42:3 (ESV)
God did not need Job or his friends to speak for him. God can speak for himself. Job was left at a place of humility and repentance.
Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:6 (ESV)
When I think of this story, I am reminded of the song, Overwhelmed, by Big Daddy Weave:
I see the work of Your Hands
Galaxies spin in a Heavenly dance oh God
All that You are is so overwhelmingI hear the sound of Your Voice
All at once it’s a gentle and thundering noise oh God
All that You are is so overwhelmingI delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You
Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the trials of life because we are not overwhelmed by the greatness of God. The pride in us wants to convince us we have something to contribute to our salvation. Pride wants us to believe that we don’t need any help. Pride wants to push Jesus out of the picture.
Humility is the opposite. Humility puts us in a place to ask and to receive God’s help. Humility opens the door for Jesus’ work in our lives. We are lavished with an incredible love that is beyond anything we would ever imagine. When we grasp how much God loves us it is incredibly humbling. We recognize that we could never love him back in the same way.
The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV)
What Paul knew was the power of humility. When you recognize how incredible God is and how lowly you are, you recognize that your seemingly great challenges your life are none too large for him.
James says the rich man should boast in his humiliation. The rich man tends to put his hope in his money. The influential man puts his hope in his authority. The famous man puts his hope in his acclaim. The educated man puts his hope in his great learning.
Of all the things we put our pride in, there is only one thing worth boasting about. It is our Savior. Humility is emptying ourselves of all we have to boast about so that we have room in our heart for something we can truly be proud of.
Questions for Reflection
- How has your pride got you in trouble?
- How has pride prevented you from getting the help you need?
- What have you learned from humility?
- Describe a time you felt overwhelmed by the love of God.
- Share your comments and thoughts below.
Sara Minhinnick says
I’ve learned that humility brings me the help I need and brings me peace. When I humble myself, before God and man, and confess my sins and need for prayer I feel a sense of peace. It is humbling to confess failure to God, and others, but the result is priceless; peace that passes all understanding.
Eve says
Whenever I try to put my trust in my abilities or money, God leases me to a devotion like this telling me to humble myself before Him and trust Him.
jenjoyyocum says
For me, it is not a conscious decision to not trust in God, rather there is sort of mindlessness about it. If I stop and live mindfully, asking for God’s help and guidance, it is better. The process is better, regardless of the outcome. The key is to stop and listen, stop and ponder, being conscious of God and Jesus and the Spirit, and then doing (or not).
Fran says
Agree, especially about the mindlessness for me. In today’s world, it is very easy to get caught up in a hectic pace and just react, rather than to stop, ponder & act according to the direction you receive from the Spirit,
Susan Jeffries says
Overwhelmed by God’s love during a time when my marriage problems finally hit so hard I felt I was drowning. I broke down in church. The love I felt from the women who surrounded me and prayed for me filled my heart with love. My pastor asked what she should pray for. When I said I did not know, she said she would just pray. Such love sent by God!