“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2 NLT)
This is a tough one and it certainly doesn't come naturally to any of us. Humility is possibly the greatest need of mankind, aside from the need to know Christ in salvation. But, you can't even know Christ until you humble yourself to acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of Christ's help. A number of the Proverbs deal with this subject and it comes up again and again before finishing these thirty-one chapters. Humility is not walking around with drooped shoulders always talking about your past failures or poor performance. That's pseudo-humilty because what it does is draw attention to yourself so people will notice you. Humility doesn't seek out attention! Basically, It means acknowledging that you need God's help and that you can't live without it! True humility also acknowledges that everything you have and everything you are comes from God as His gift to you. The humble person turns any praise or recognition received back to God because He's the One that made it possible anyway. Consider these thoughts: Humility causes us to place ourselves under others so that we can lift them up instead of lifting up ourselves. Humility means even if you get used at times by others, you refuse to use others in a similar manner. Humility won't engage in petty arguments in order to prove the other person wrong and itself right. Humility tries to recognize what other people need and seeks to quietly meet that need when possible. Humility understands a spouse's weaknesses/struggles in order not to aggravate or exploit them. Humility loves others as God loves them even when that love isn't reciprocated. Humility acts as a peacemaker when relationships are difficult and troubled, rather than stirring up more trouble. I could go on like this, but you get the point. The humble person puts the interests of others ahead of his own, especially in his family and among his friends. Solomon says that apart from humility you can't be wise! The reason is because the humble ask for help, which is something the proud will never do! I have to ask God for help every...single...day!
