God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble and so what are some of the best Bible verses on humility? What verses would you include?
* A Definition of Humility
The world defines humility as a lowering of oneself in relation to others, a state or the act of being humble, a freedom of pride and arrogance, and having a modest opinion or estimate of one’s own worth. It is not groveling in front of others, being a doormat, or is a sign of weakness. Moses was said to be the meekest man on earth (Numb 12:3) but meekness is not weakness but it’s actually strength that is under control. The fact is that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The word James uses for “opposes” is the Greek word “antitasso” which means “to range in battle against” so we could put James 4:6 like this; “God is in battle against the proud but gives grace to the humble.” The fact is that until a person humbles themselves they can never receive the grace of God which is a gift that He only gives to those who are of a humble and contrite nature. Isaiah testified of this by writing “this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (66:2) and that “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite” (57:15). So we see that it is in the person’s best interest to humble themselves, otherwise God is at war with them and He will not “revive” their heart or will not even look upon them. I could put it this way; we are not who we think we are…what we think, we are!
Matthew 18:1-4 “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Children are naturally humble and whoever is humble is teachable and that is why Jesus said that we must be like children. He is not saying that we are to be childish but childlike. That is a huge difference. The greatest are the most humble because they are more likely to learn, to serve, and to not think too highly of themselves. God cannot fill a person who is already full of themselves.
Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
The person that is truly humble is the person who will “count others more significant than” themselves because they will “look not only to [their] own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The application of this would be when others are speaking, don’t interrupt, when others are waiting on something, let them go first, when someone needs something, we supply that need even if we need it ourselves. That is true humility. Thinking more highly of others than self and putting their interests ahead of ours.
First Peter 5:5-6 “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”
We are to clothe ourselves in “humility toward one another” and this is not just for those “who are younger.” Peter actually quotes James (4:6) and repeats “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” and anytime something is repeated in the Scriptures, God is saying “listen carefully to this…I am going to repeat it.” By Peter quoting James he also authenticates that what James had written was considered Scripture. The Book of James was one of the first books written in the New Testament and both James and Peter saw the importance of humility because they understood that God is at war with the proud of heart.
Matthew 23:10-12 “Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Who will be the greatest among those in the church today? It will be those who are servants or serving others. If a person exalts themselves, they will be humbled but if they humble themselves first then they will be exalted by God because God exalts the humble and humbles the exalted. This is what James wrote in 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” Wouldn’t it be better if we humble ourselves rather than God having to do it for us? Either way we will be humbled and it is better that we do this than God have to do it the hard way.