GENUINE HUMILITY

by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Acts 18:1-17; 2 Corinthians 11:22-28

We'd rather admire Paul for his strength in trials. We want to applaud his fierce determination against vicious persecution. If the man were alive today, he would not tolerate our congratulations. "No, no, no. You don't understand. I'm not strong. The One who pours His power into me is strong. My strength comes from my weakness." That's no false modesty. Paul would tell us, "Strength comes from embracing weakness and boasting in that." It is that kind of response that brings divine strength and allows it to spring into action.

J. Oswald Sanders, in his book, Paul, the Leader, writes, "We form part of a generation that worships power---military, intellectual, economical, scientific. The concept of power is worked into the warp and woof of our daily living. Our entire world is divided into power blocs. Men everywhere are striving for power in various realms, often with questionable motivation."

The celebrated Scottish preacher, James Stewart, made a statement that is also challenging: "It is always upon human weakness and humiliation, not human strength and confidence, that God chooses to build His Kingdom; and that He can use us not merely in spite of our ordinariness and helplessness and disqualifying infirmities, but precisely because of them."

That's a thrilling discovery to make. It transforms our mental attitude toward our circumstances.

Let's pause long enough here to consider this principle in all seriousness. Your humiliations, your struggles, your battles, your weaknesses, your feelings of inadequacy, your helplessness, even your so-called "disqualifying" infirmities are precisely what make you effective. I would go further and say they represent the stuff of greatness. Once you are convinced of your own weakness and no longer trying to hide it, you embrace the power of Christ. Paul modeled that trait wonderfully, once he grasped the principle. His pride departed and in its place emerged a genuine humility that no amount of hardship could erase.

Humility God's Way

Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:6

Recommended Reading Isaiah 64:6

An elderly minister who survived the great Johnstown Flood of 1889 loved to regale audiences with tales of that harrowing event. When he died and went to heaven, he found himself in a meeting of saints who were sharing their life experiences. He took St. Peter aside and asked if he could tell about surviving the Johnstown Flood. Peter hesitated, then said, "Well, you can tell your story, but just keep in mind that Brother Noah will be in the audience."

There is something in our human flesh that loves to tempt us to talk about ourselves—how big, tall, great, smart, wealthy, or wise we are. Even how humble we are! But God has his ways of helping us learn that we're not quite what we would like others to believe. In fact, to prompt a little humility in us, He tells us that all our great deeds "are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). It's not that God doesn't want us to be lifted up. It's just that He wants to exalt us His way, not the world's way. He wants us to see that our greatness is because of Christ's greatness, not because of ours.

Next time you're tempted to talk about yourself, look around the room and see who God might have in the audience.

If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of humility.
St. Augustine

Seek Humility...

He who ignores discipline despises himself,


but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.




The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,


and humility comes before honor.




Proverbs 15:32,33 NIV




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Pride goes before destruction,


And a haughty spirit before stumbling.


It is better to be humble in spirit with the


lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.




Proverbs 16:18,19 NASB




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A man's pride shall bring him low:


but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.




Proverbs 29:23 KJV




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Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift:


Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of


our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

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