Humility, Thou Secret Vale

Background Scripture: James 4; Luke 14
Lesson Scripture: James 4:6-10; Luke 14:7-11

Introduction

Is humility really a “secret vale”? If so, why? It should be a familiar, well-inhabited place because without humility no one can become or remain a child of God. Jesus is our perfect example of humility and lowliness, and He dwells in that vale. It is a blessed place of peace, contentment, security, and fellowship with those who also have found its secret.

Key Verse

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Prov. 29:23).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The verses from James make it clear that humility is the key that opens the door of grace and that God resists the proud. It is unlikely that anyone fully understands God’s resistance to pride, but we know that the way of the transgressor is hard. God resists pride; it is despicable to Him and an affront to His nature. This passage of scripture is rich in promise. He invites us to humble ourselves and receive His grace. If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Although Satan is powerful, if we resist him he will flee from us. If we humble ourselves, God will lift us up.

In our reading from Luke, Jesus spoke of the folly of vanity that is common to all. Who of us, in one way or another, has not coveted a seat in the upper room at the feast? It may be a place of notice at some special occasion. Perhaps we secretly hope to be chosen for a responsibility or task that seems honorable or desirable. Maybe we wish that we or our children would be given a position in the church. How many times have we been humiliated or ashamed because someone else was chosen instead? Much inner conflict and frustration can be avoided if we humbly take a place in the “lowest room.” Then if we are bidden to something “greater,” it is with the blessing of God and our brethren, and if we are asked to stay in the lower place, we can do that humbly and with joy. Either way, we are blessed with the pure exaltation of our heavenly Father.

Practical Truths for Today

Pride is the cardinal sin. When the scripture lists those things that God hates, the first one is “a proud look” (Prov. 6:16-19). Lucifer scorned the love of God and the glory of heaven and coveted for himself the position of Jesus as the Son of God. He said, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isa. 14:14). Ever since, his pride has driven him to war with all that is humble and godly. He tempted Eve through pride in the garden of Eden. There are many tragic examples in Scripture of the life and end of those who were lifted up in pride.

Satan tried to overcome Jesus by prideful temptations, and he tried to destroy Him by the pride and envy of those who opposed and hated Him. The pride of Satan has tried, in all generations, to ruin the work of God, the Word of God, and the children of God. Pride is at the root of all sin, heartache, and death. Likely, Satan’s pride has so deceived him that he still believes he will ultimately triumph. All this is why God hates pride wherever it dwells. Just as God is greater than Satan, humility is stronger than pride. Self, sin, Satan, and the world can be overcome through the grace that God gives to the humble.

Perhaps the question that most begs an answer is, How does one humble himself? In God’s plan, that is our part in the work of salvation and in our relationship with Him. To humble ourselves is not merely to cultivate a modest or self-deprecating attitude about ourselves or by trying to properly present ourselves in our conduct, appearance, or possessions. Jesus is our perfect example of humility, and from Him we can learn to humble ourselves.

Jesus laid aside His heavenly robes of honor and glory and descended to the earth He had created. He became an unknowing, undeveloped, unborn child in the womb of Mary. He was born the same way that billions of people have been born. The Son of God, creator of heaven and earth, became the infant child of Joseph and Mary and was completely dependent upon them. The Son of God went to school with other village children to learn to read and write. The one who fashioned worlds took up simple tools and became a carpenter, making things needed by humble folk rather than for angels.

In the wilderness, He subjected Himself to the temptations of Satan when He could have annihilated him with a word. He who had worthily received the praise, worship, and adoration of heaven patiently bore the opposition, slander, and hate of the Jews.

Three times, in the garden of Gethsemane, He cast Himself down before His Father, pleading for another way, yet praying, “Thy will be done.” Those who hated Him mocked Him, spit in His face, beat Him, and scourged Him. He laid Himself down on the cross and extended His hands and feet to be nailed there by those He loved and had come to save. In all this, He was humbling Himself, becoming “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). It may be that the full measure of His humbling was when His Father turned away and Jesus cried like a sinner, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). He did this for our sake, becoming poor that we “through his poverty” might be rich.

Is it any wonder that God so detests pride in the face of such an example of humility, fulfilled in Christ because of His great love for us as He made a way for our salvation? Why do we cling to the paltry things of self and the world, seeking for security, gratification, and fulfillment from them? If we humble ourselves, we will follow Jesus’s example and, from our hearts, make ourselves “of no reputation,” kneeling with Him in Gethsemane, pleading, “Thy will be done.” We will follow Him in obedience “unto death, even the death of the cross.” Humility will bear fruit in every area of our lives—our love for God, our estimation of ourselves, our charity toward our fellowmen, and in our conduct, appearance, and possessions. Humility always produces simplicity and an attitude of unworthiness.

No wonder humility is such a beautiful vale in which to dwell. No wonder our hearts long to enter into that vale and be at rest. Jesus has made that place by His own example, and He is there to commune with us. Those in the vale of humility are lowly people. They do not try to impress God, themselves, or each other. They do not feel superior physically, spiritually, socially, or economically, because they have received the grace God gives the humble, and they feel unworthy of it. They “condescend to men of low estate” (Rom. 12:16) and are content to be one of them. They do not measure themselves or others by pride’s standards and “esteem other better than themselves” (Phil. 2:3). This is not due to their efforts but because they have glimpsed God’s greatness, and it has made them very small, even like little children.

Those in the vale of humility accept themselves as they are because they are a work of God’s grace. They do not feel pressured to meet the approval or expectations of others and do not measure their own worth by their perceived worth of others. What God thinks means much more to them than what others think because He is their first love. With Paul they can say, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10). They humbly labor in their gifts, even when in the “lowest room,” and rejoice in and support those who are more noticed or honored. They are loved because they threaten no one and are not intimidating in attitude, position, or performance. They find no need to boast, even subtly, or to speak disparagingly about themselves, hoping others will compliment them or lift them up. Neither in word nor action do they say, “Look at me” or “Pity me.” In their lowliness of mind, they live above the fray of petty competition and rivalry.

May we earnestly seek the face of God, finding in Him submission and self-denial that bring us to godly humility and open wide the doors of grace.

Questions

1. Did more teaching and emphasis in earlier years about plainness and simplicity in vehicles, dress, hairstyles, and home decoration help us identify pride and its fruit in our lives? Should these things be emphasized more today?
2. Where does the elusive definition, “If you claim to have found humility, you have lost it,” fit into today’s lesson?
3. As those striving to serve the Lord, why are we so often blinded to our own pride, and what is the answer to that problem?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).