The Rewards of Humility Matthew 18:4:

Matthew 18:4: Jesus knew we understand best with good audio-visual helps. When He wanted to be sure His disciples understood what true humility was, He called a child to Him. The Greek word is a neuter-gender term, so it could have been either a boy or a girl. It is translated in Strong’s Concordance as a “childling” or infant. (“Infant” did not mean baby in arms, as we use it in North America. As recently as the late 19th century the term meant a small child. And in Europe today infant schools, for example, include preschools and primary schools, and the term may be used for children up to seven or eight years old.) It was a little one. Why is this important?

When Jesus said, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,” English doesn’t make it clear enough that He meant a small child. Our children are born into a sinful world, and it is a shockingly short time before they begin to display tendencies that are anything but humble. But a little one who has been loved and cared for, who still trusts that the world is going to be a good place, a toddler who smiles the grumpies out of every tired adult in the grocery store, a preschooler whose hug makes the cares of the world melt away, that’s an example worth emulating.

The problem is, we know better. We haven’t always been loved and cared for. We know very well the world is often not a good place at all. We even know what this same child looks like when she’s tired and cross, when she doesn’t get her way, when she doesn’t feel like sharing. Where, then, do we get smiles and hugs that banish grumpies and melt the cares of the world?

It seems that the concept of humbling oneself “as this child,” might begin with forgetting what we know. Go back. Turn back the pages, look under all the practical things we learned on the way to adulthood. Remember what we knew before that. Remember when we were certain that we had come from God and were going to God, and He always, always loved us, no matter what. Look at the world as a new and exciting place, full of adventure and mystery. Look into the faces of the other dwellers here and watch for the twinkle that gives away that deep inside, they know, too. Smile. Wait your turn. Hug people. Share. Then, believe it or not, God will treat us as “the greatest in the kingdom.” This is the way Kingdom Citizens act, He says. They love. Because humility equals love. And then the promises start to come true, right before your eyes.

The Rewards of Humility Isaiah 57:15:

Isaiah 57:15: This is a beautiful passage. “For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” It’s amazing, when you think about it. The unimaginably great God, the “high and exalted One,” who dwells in a place we can’t begin to imagine, in “light unapproachable,” (1 Tim. 6:16) humbles Himself to come and live with the lowly, or humble ones, the contrite, or repentant ones. Why? So that He can revive our hearts and spirits. What more is there to say?

The Rewards of Humility Proverbs 22:4 and 29:23:

Proverbs 22:4 and 29:23: “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.” “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” It is a truism, even in contemporary society, that being humble will actually bring honor. That’s where much false humility comes from: “Oh, no, you shouldn’t have. … It was nothing. … No problem.”

 “I didn’t do much,” we say, hoping to be contradicted. James says to choose the lower seat, and the host will give you a better one. It’s doubtful that he meant we should do it for that reason. Hang back, waiting for someone to notice and draw you forward. People can usually tell when we have that attitude. If we do succeed in fooling them, it won’t be for long, and it won’t happen next time. In fact, it’s likely to backfire.

That said, this is a promise of God. Jesus, the Bible teaches, gained even more honor and exaltation than He already had, if that’s possible, because He willingly reduced Himself to the lowest of the low in order to save us.

Humility, with reverence for God, brings “riches, honor and life.” This is one of those texts that’s a little confusing on first sight. Most of the truly humble people we know are not, in fact, rich. They don’t necessarily live longer, and their faces aren’t in the news. What kind of riches, honor, and life? This must be the treasure one stores in heaven, the abundant life Jesus promises, the honor of knowing one’s name is in the Book of Life. As for long life? Well, you can’t beat eternity!

The Rewards of Humility Psalm 34:2-3:

Psalm 34:2-3: “My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” So humility does have something to brag about, God! This time, David is pointing out that other humble people may be blessed by one’s humility. The blessings will spread around. In other places, such as Psalm 69:32, he praises God for some delivery or mercy, and says “the humble have seen it and are glad.” Humility shares the blessing.

There is a story about the popular personality types, choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholy. It says if someone is standing on a bridge contemplating suicide, the laidback phlegmatic will walk on by, the forceful choleric will order him to “Snap out of it!” the lively sanguine will try—for a few minutes, anyway—to cheer him up, and the sympathetic melancholy will listen to his story and then jump off with him!

Of course, this story intends, in a tongue-in-cheek way, to show what these personality types might do if they are not in connection with their Creator. What if the redeemed phlegmatic, naturally calm, tried to pour oil on troubled waters; the choleric, naturally strong, offered some practical help; the melancholy, naturally sensitive, listened lovingly to his story; and the sanguine, naturally cheerful, started a praise service? If they worked together in Spirit-led community, and if they praised God together, sharing times He’d gotten them through some hard spot, then, according to the rest of Psalm 69:32, the lonely heart would revive. Now there’s a reward for some humble, shared praising of the God who is bigger than all of us, but near enough to hold us!

The Rewards of Humility Job 22:21-29

Job 22:21-29: Here is quite a treatise on humility and its rewards. In this case, the context is Job’s friend Eliphaz, insisting that Job would not be in trouble if he hadn’t somehow deserved it. We know from God’s response at the end of the book that Eliphaz was wrong in his estimation of Job’s guilt (speaking of well-meaning judgmentalism and lack of humility,) but there are still some very comforting principles in this passage.

First, verse 21 says, “Yield now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.” There are two rewards here. First and most important, humility brings peace with God. As noted yesterday, being out of step with God is the worst feeling there is. And it’s true Job was in some very deep trouble, and certainly did not feel understanding of or understood by God. That’s another way of being out of step. In the end, even though he knew, and God agreed, that there was no open sin in his life, Job did, in fact, humble himself and thereby gain peace. “I retract,” he said, “I repent in dust and ashes.” (42:6)

Secondly, peace brings “good.” This is a pretty broad term. The good that comes into our lives as a result of humbling ourselves before God may be visibly wonderful things like Job getting all his riches back and having more children. Not that more children can ever replace the loss of those that are gone. But they are a blessing. Or the good that comes may be in new spiritual strength, and not as visible, except to others. But good will come.

One of the most surprising rewards of humility is found in verse 29: “When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, and the humble person He will save.” Interesting! When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence? This is even more definitely stated than the principle we drew from Christ’s life, that a humble person can still speak with confidence. It doesn’t seem to us as if the two go together at all, and yet in this verse, it’s as if they have a cause and effect relationship. How can this be?

Is it possible that having a “modest estimate” of our own worth makes it easier to recognize the immense value God puts on us (more valuable than His own life!) and gives us more confidence than we would have if we valued ourselves in the usual way, by counting money or achievements or looks or power or whatever? It does clearly have to do with salvation: “The humble person He will save.”

In the midst of all his anguish, loss, confusion, and anger, we do know Job could still say, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (13:15), and “I know that my redeemer lives” (19:25). That is a picture of godly humility. And it includes the confidence to argue, even with God. Just look at the rest of 13:15: “Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.” Godly humility bows before God’s greatness, but also trusts enough to draw close as a loved child and tell God the whole truth, knowing He will listen and understand.

The Rewards of Humility 2 Chronicles 7:14:

There are more passages in the Bible which promise rich rewards to the humble than there are admonitions to be humble. We’ll look at eight of them over the next few days, moving more or less in order through the Bible. The promise phrases in each passage will be highlighted. 

2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” This is arguably one of the most famous Bible passages on humility. It brings up a subject we have not yet addressed – humility as repentance.

In context, this verse is talking about people who have rebelled against God and are now facing painful consequences. Frequently, texts which speak of “humbling oneself” are talking about recognizing sin, confessing it, accepting the responsibility for it, and submitting to both the consequences and God’s authority. This is indeed a “lowering of the eyes,” even a downcast face. “I was wrong. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” These are some of the most important words in the world. They are important between people, but even more so between a person and God. Nothing hurts so badly as being out of step with one’s Creator. That’s precisely why so many people in this world hurt so badly. Most of them don’t even know why.

Then a Christian comes and tries to tell them why, and makes things worse than ever because he forgot he too, like every human, is out of step with God. Maybe not so badly, right now. Maybe right now he can see well enough to recognize the dissonance, the out-of-balance, irregular rhythm of his friend’s life. If he humbly remembered his own irregularities, he could probably would make a connection with his friend and help bring a reconciliation without causing even deeper wounds. Maybe together they could go to the throne of mercy, cast down their eyes and the crowns of their self-consequence, humble themselves, and pray. Seek God’s face together, and ask the Spirit for power to recognize and turn from their wicked ways.

Because, if they do, the promises are amazing. “I will hear.” Not “I might hear,” or “I’ll think about it.” Not “You had it coming, don’t come crawling to Me!” “I will hear, I will forgive.” And not only that, “I will heal their land!” This is surprising, and easily open to misinterpretation. Without a clear view of Bible prophecies, or for that matter, a careful reading of the context, there are many who believe this means God will turn a particular nation into a moral, peaceful kingdom of God on earth. Remember, the context is a drought. God is saying He will heal the land, not the political entity. We should also bear in mind that as we near the end and the earth wears out “like a garment” (Heb. 1:11), as those who “destroy the earth” (Rev. 11:18) continue their selfish pillaging, God will be less able to make this a reality globally. He does promise that His followers’ bread and water will be sure, (Isa. 33:1) and if we are careful stewards, He will preserve and restore the health of our land as long as possible.

Humility - Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mils (pt5)

Lesson Number Five: Humility equals love! Love to the thousandth power, love carried to its furthest, highest limit. “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)