Haughty Or Humble?

Haughtiness goes before destruction;humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 18:12

Are we humble, or are we haughty when dealing with others?

A few days ago I was with a group of godly women, and we were discussing a problem. The problem is that in the summer sometimes women come to church wearing clothes that are very skimpy and immodest. This is very distracting and can lead the men to stumble. So the question is, how can we graciously help these women realize the need to dress modestly without being harsh and offending them? Some of my dearest friends who are now pastors’ wives share that the first time they came to church, they wore a miniskirt or a halter top. It never occurred to them that this was wrong.

• Don’t be haughty. Haughtiness is having or showing great pride in oneself and disdain or contempt for others. If we make women feel stupid, or flawed, or inferior, it will crush them—and maybe they will not come back.
• Pray first. Pray for wisdom, and grace, and gentle tact. In other words, be humble and sweet to this woman whom Christ died for. Listen to the wonderful advice given in 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (NKJV).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Jesus is our most accurate and beautiful picture of true humility. Of course he was flawless, completely righteous. And yet the most desperate sinners were drawn to him. They felt safe in his presence because they were safe in his presence. This challenges and humbles me; doesn’t it you? Honestly, how do those who are hurting or poor or lost feel in our presence? Are we haughty or humble?

Let’s Pray

Lord, break my heart for the broken and weak. Help me to reflect your tender kindness to the poorest and the weakest, as you do. May your humble heart beat within me and your love shine through me.

One Year Bible Reading

2 Kings 22:3–23:30; Acts 21:37–22:16; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12