"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up."
James 4:10
“Humble yourselves.”
These words go entirely across the grain of our “old man.” Before salvation, we were proud rebels at heart. And the last thing a rebellious sinner wants to hear is, “be humble.”
Years ago, when our boys were very young, one of my sons came and said, “Dad, I want to get saved.” We sat down and talked awhile about salvation and what it means to be a sinner. And then we discussed the “good news” that Jesus came to save sinners. I told my boy that he needed to tell God that he is a sinner. After a long pause, my son said, “I can’t tell God that!” Even at his tender age, his pride reared its ugly head, and he said out loud what so many sinners think. Maybe this thought is keeping you from salvation, “I am not so bad,” “there are plenty of other people worse than me!” Until my son could settle the issue of his sinfulness, first in his own heart, and then with God, he could not be saved. Humility is vital for salvation.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord… That is, be willing to take your appropriate place in the dust on account of your transgressions” (Barnes).
Jesus taught us that to be accepted in God’s sight, our humility is vital.
“Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
“In the sight of the Lord.”
We need to be reminded that everything we do is in the Lord’s sight. He misses nothing, He sees all. We cannot hide our thoughts, actions, attitudes, or words from Him.
Our humility is not an act we put on for man’s benefit. We humble ourselves before the Lord. No pretense allowed, and genuine humility is called for. The Lord knows the difference between true humility and what is phony. You will never fool the Lord. Sinner or saint, we need humility before Him.
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
“And he shall lift you up.”
What wonderful words. To those who are genuinely humble, God will lift up.
“When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is lifting up, and he shall save the humble person” (Job 22:29).
“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people” (Psalm 113:7-8).
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
Believers, if we are to walk with God, we must be humble.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).
Quote: “Knowledge is proud that it knows so much; wisdom is humble that it knows no more” (William Cowper).