Continuing with thoughts on Humility, the most important virtue—three aspects
Second, humility is submitting our intellect to God’s Word.
Psalm 119 is full of statements of the need to embrace, to affirm, to live God’s Word and way rather than our own. “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart….You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed” (Ps. 119:1-4).
I have a number of friends who say they are born-again believers in Jesus, yet they choose to run their lives by their own ideas. For instance, they are too busy to go to church, work seven days a week and have no quiet time. Jesus is an “add-on” rather than being the center of their lives.They think they know better than God about these things and go their own way.
As Luke 6;46-48 says, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice….They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”
Another version of this pride are those dissatisfied with the unchangeable things in their lives: how they look, the family they are in, their spouse, their financial situation. These are things God has given or allowed. He has His purposes and plans with them. Humility means embracing what He has giving us, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving for all, rejoicing in His wisdom, love and grace, instead of thinking we know best.
