Why does God want us to be humble?
Zechariah 9:9Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.
John 13:12-14After washing [the disciples’] feet, [Jesus] put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.”
Philippians 2:5-11You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 2:9Jesus . . . for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.”
The Almighty God humbled himself, took on human flesh, and came to earth to save us. He worked as a carpenter, he talked with little children, ate dinner with unimportant people, and chose fishermen to be his right-hand men. He turned the other cheek to insults, lies, and physical abuse—all so he could die for us. He modeled for us the kind of humility he wants for us.
Psalm 18:27You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.
Psalm 149:4The Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
Luke 18:9-14Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Humility is measured by God’s standards, not our own. Who can measure up to God’s perfect standards? No one can without God’s help. The tax collector recognized this, repented, and turned to God’s grace. The Pharisee relied on his own ability, denying his need for God.
Psalm 25:9He [the Lord] leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.
Proverbs 11:2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 18:12Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.
Matthew 11:25-26Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!”
Matthew 18:4“Anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
James 4:6-10As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
1 Peter 5:5-6All of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
God cares about our internal motivations more than appearances. Many people put on a performance of good deeds so others will praise and approve them, but fewer perform good deeds when no one is watching. God delights and rewards a loving heart.
