Luke 14 Lesson

HUMILITY

Humility is defined as:

• “Freedom from pride or arrogance.  The quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.” (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

As followers of Jesus, we need to think differently than the way the world thinks. 

Instead of living for ourselves, we are to live to glorify God and to serve others. 

Consider the following two verses written by the Apostle Paul:

1. “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” - Romans 6:4,
2. “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:2.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT HUMILITY

The Bible has a lot to say about humility.

For today’s lesson, we have highlighted the following five verses:

1. “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.” - Proverbs 22:4, 
2. “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” - 1 Peter 5:5,    
3. “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.” - Proverbs 11:2,  
4. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” - James 4:10,
5. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” -Colossians 3:12.

STAYING HUMBLE IN TIMES OF PROSPERITY

One could argue that the times in our lives when we are most susceptible to Satan's advances are when we are experiencing success. 

Satan loves to lull us into a false sense of security by making us think that we do not need God in our lives.  

Nothing could be further from the truth!   

If we have experienced any measure of success, it is only by the grace of God, and God is the one who deserves the glory, not us.

If we become puffed up, or proud, He will humble us for our own spiritual wellbeing. 

Focusing on the following two scriptures can help us to remain humble:  

1. “Every good thing given, and every perfect gift is from above.” – James 1:17. Any blessings that we receive are not of our own doing, they are blessings from God, and we should give Him the glory, 
2. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”–Luke 14:11.  If we begin to think too highly of ourselves, God will humble us for our own good. 

GOD USES ADVERSITY TO HUMBLE AND TEACH US

While nobody likes to go through hard times, we must realize that God uses adversity to strengthen us and to remind us of how much we need Him.  

The Hebrew writer said:

• “God disciplines those that He loves, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” -Hebrews 12:6.  

Therefore, we should not be surprised when we find ourselves going through various struggles. 

Instead, we should realize that the troubles we are facing could be part of God’s plan to:

1. Teach us,
2. Discipline us,
3. Shape us into the Christians that He created us to be! 

NEWNESS OF LIFE MEANS NEW PRIORITIES

Jesus said:

• “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” –  Luke 14:26.

Is Jesus saying that we are to hate our parents, spouses, children, siblings, and even ourselves?

No!

That is not what Jesus is saying.  

When you look at the original translations, what Jesus is talking about here is to “Love them less.” 

Jesus is talking about our priorities.  

When we rank the important things in our lives, God needs to come first.  

Before ourselves.  

Before our families.  

Before everything!  

When we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into place from a spiritual perspective.

Will we still have struggles?

Yes.

But our spiritual lives will be in order, and in the end, that is all that matters.

Jesus taught us about this in His Sermon on the Mount:

• “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” - Mathew 6:33.

CONCLUSION

Christians are supposed to be humble.

More so, Christians are commanded to be humble.

We do not practice humility to get a reward, we practice humility out of reverence to God and a sincere desire to obey His commandments.

If we are humble, God will exalt us at the proper time. 

If we become proud or puffed up, we will be humbled for our own good.

We will end today’s lesson with the following two scriptures:

1. “But the greatest of you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” - Mathew 23:11-12,
2. “In the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:8.