SABBATH THOUGHT 2024-12-14—HUMILITY & MEEKNESS

May God bless you on His Sabbath day!

Humility is a modest and unpretentious view of oneself in regard to others and, especially, God. Meekness is the gentle and respectful treatment of others from an attitude of humility. Paul said no one should “think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Rom. 12:3). This is, basically, humility. Taking it further, he said “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” (Rom. 12:10). It is, perhaps, one of the best definitions of meekness.

Humility and meekness might seem rather blasé topics, but they are quite the opposite in the eyes of God. The source and existence of everything—the heavens and earth, time, life, power (both physical and authoritative), wealth, wisdom, knowledge, etc.—that has been, now is, and ever will be is God the Father through the hand of Jesus Christ:

COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 For by Him [Jesus Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Compared to God, flesh and blood are so insignificant that they are basically nothing. While a penny has value, compared to a trillion dollars (million million) it is utterly inconsequential. Who has measurable worth compared to God?

ISAIAH 40:17-18 All nations before Him [God] are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and [vanity]. 18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

I cannot imagine that God loves any who are not humble and meek. All are a penny compared to His vast worth. It is difficult, if not impossible, to love someone who is proud and arrogant (opposites of humility and meekness). From the perspective of God, none even come close to His power and abilities so pride is particularly offensive. It is actually completely repulsive to Him:

PROVERBS 6:16-17 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination [disgusting, abhorrent] to Him: 17 A proud look, …

PROVERBS 16:5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination [disgusting, abhorrent] to the LORD; …

This should not be surprising. Satan was “perfect” in wisdom and beauty[1] and obviously far superior to any flesh and blood. But he was lifted up in pride and, in that state, this great being became “profane” or defiled to God[2]. Pride is an abomination to God who has slated such things for destruction:

ISAIAH 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up– and it shall be brought low–

MALACHI 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.

REVELATION 21:8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

I hope this strikes home. While becoming agape love is a matter of salvation so, too, is putting away pride and arrogance. One enemy of agape love is anger but pride and arrogance are also enemies of agape love. Pride is also an enemy of humility and arrogance an enemy of meekness. Can agape love exist without humility or meekness? Doubtful, especially considering that the eternal Kingdom is reserved solely for those who are humble (and meek):

ISAIAH 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite [remorseful] and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Pride and arrogance can affect everyone. Humans are very susceptible to such things, as we know from the story of Adam and Eve. But pride and arrogance can be particularly troubling for those with unique gifts or offices such as elders. It is, in my experience, a daily fight to be humble and meek:

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-2, 6 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be … 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

1 PETER 5:2-6 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

I have written about the role of elders in the past[3]. There are many influences that affect elders including organizational hierarchies that emphasize position, authority, and power. But false teachings of biblical roles have also led some astray. For example, some have mistakenly used this verse to claim elders have special honor:

1 TIMOTHY 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Most often, the error is to think that God bestows upon elders a double honor. It is not FROM God; rather, it is how elders should be TREATED by the ekklesia. But that does not mean elders are really above others. As Peter said, “all of you [including elders] be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility” (1 Pet. 5:5). Even if someone were worth TWO pennies, they are still insignificant compared to God.

The problem is that pride and arrogance arise when we compare ourselves to other people. However, God has a different standard: “… be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect.” (TS2009 Matt. 5:48). But pride and arrogance abound and can afflict anyone, especially as the end draws near:

2 TIMOTHY 3:1-2 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, … boasters, proud, …

This is directed to the ekklesia, not the world, as indicated in verses 6-7. When it comes to pleasing God, humility and meekness are paramount:

COLOSSIANS 3:12-14 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another [NOT easily offended], and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

MATTHEW 18:4 “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

It is interesting that agape love is the foundation of the character of God (God IS love[4]), for keeping the Law of God, for forgivness of sins, and so forth. Humility, on the other hand, is the metric (in both the Old and New Testaments) for being EXALTED by God in the Kingdom:

PSALM 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

LUKE 14:7-11 So He [Jesus Christ] told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 “and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 “But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Notice the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. The Pharisee compared himself to other people; whereas, the tax collector compared himself to God:

LUKE 18:9-14 Also He [Jesus Christ] spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Humility and meekness are integral to agape love. Obviously, “… God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” (John 3:16). But in order to do this, Jesus Christ had to HUMBLE Himself. While this is obvious, have you ever really considered just how much humility was required for Jesus as GOD to become flesh, endure torments of suffering unto death, and be a vessel for the world’s sins? Even though He is far above flesh and blood, He places a high worth upon pennies:

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ created all things “that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.” (Col. 1:16). WHO compares to His pre-eminence and ascendancy?? Jesus HUMBLED Himself for all mankind. Humility is the outcome when a penny compares itself to the immeasurable worth of God and meekness is the response to other pennies. A single penny is not worth much alone but God is gathering many pennies so that He, in all His immeasurable greatness, may be all in all[5].

May God’s grace and peace be upon you!

Steven Greene

https://sabbathreflections.org

sabbathreflections@gmail.com