I’m
not sure when last you thought about humility, but I find it a difficult thing
to ponder. Not because it is
particularly hard to understand, but because it is always harder to apply to myself
than I original think it will be. But I
suppose that is true of all God’s Laws—broken down, they are far easier to
understand, than they are to live.
For
example, I think most people can easily perceive humility when they see it. Honest humility, when it is exhibited in our
presence, is a remarkable thing to behold—it is quiet, yet speaks volumes; it
is meek, but remarkably strong; it is cloaked, but unmistakable; it is simple,
but it is wise. Humility does not
promote the self over others, yet works and cares for those all around. It is not hyperventilating or wringing its
hands over issues and problems, but calmly uses what gifts are given to relieve
the suffering of others. It is not
easily angered or depressed, but lives each moment as one given by God. It does not seek honor or privilege, but
promotes and strengthens others. It is
selfless and unworried about personal calamities and tragedies, and yet keenly
aware of the struggles of others.
Why
is this? Because humility is fundamental
to understanding who we are, and why we are here. A humble person understands their place in
the universe—their relationship to God, their neighbor, and the whole created
world. Such a person knows why God has
brought them to the moment in which they live, and knows that God will carry
them not only through this moment, but through every moment of eternity. No matter the calamity or prosperity of the
day, nothing can separate the humble from the love of God their Savior, because
the humble know that the promises of God are more sure than anything else in
all creation.
Like
so many times when we look into the mirror of the Law, we see ourselves
deficient. God commands His people to be
humble, to know their place in the created order, and to be content with the
grace provided to them both now and in eternity. But when we look at ourselves, we often are
far less than humble. We nurture our
pride with accolades and awards, degrees, titles and certificates, fancy
clothes and cars, fine food and pleasant vacations—all with the unstated
premise that we deserve these things… that we’ve earned a right to all these
things. We think we are owed our
pleasantries, our honorable seats at feasts and festivities. We think we deserve to have lives devoid of
pain and suffering, but full of fatness and gluttony. Deep down, we think God should give us what we
want and what we think we deserve, should honor us and pamper us, because of
what we think we’re worth. We think God
owes us life, money, sex, pleasure, vehicles, houses, education, vacations,
good health, and victory in all our pursuits.
In fact, what we really think, is that we’re more important than God,
and that God should bow to us.
And
so, in the light of the Law of Humility, we find that we are anything but
humble. Rather, we find that we are much
closer in kinship with the devil, who despised all the created gifts he was
given, and wanted rather to be God—to make the only True God bow to him. We are not humble, but rather, we are
prideful, rebellious, and wicked sinners, to whom God owes nothing but wrath
and eternal condemnation.
But
where do we find the Law of Humility satisfied?
In Jesus Christ, our Lord. It was
Jesus, who though eternally begotten of the Father, in humility was born of a
lowly Virgin, took on human nature, lived among the human race, set aside His
divine prerogatives and suffered at the hands of sinful men. In humility, the Creator went to the Cross,
allowing Himself to die under the misused authority of His creatures, in order
to save our sinful race from the curse that enslaved us to sin, death, and the
devil. The humility of Jesus Christ knew
the love of the Father, not only in the present moment, but in all moments of
all eternity, and secure in that love, poured out His Life as a ransom for the
souls of men. Risen the third day, and
now seated at the Right Hand of the Father, from whence He shall come again to
judge the living and the dead, and whose Kingdom will have no end, He calls to
all the world to repent of their evil, believe in His saving Gospel, and live
forever with Him.
We
may never achieve the fullness of humility while we struggle in this world
against the sin that so easily ensnares us, but with our eyes cast upon Christ
our Savior, we can see what the love of God can accomplish through the humility
of His Son. With our eyes upon Jesus and
His Cross, we can reflect His humility to those around us, while the Love of
God in Jesus Christ pours out upon us, and through us, to the suffering world
around us. We have no need to fear this
moment in which we live, nor any moment yet to come. God has shown His Love for us in the person
of His Son, and His promise of forgiveness, life, and salvation, are more sure
than any thing in heaven above or the earth beneath. Christ our Savior has become our life, our
love, our hope, and our humility. Thanks
be to God. Amen.
