Humility is the pathway to glory

For the Lord delights in His people; He crowns the humble with victory. ~Psalm 149:4 (NIV)

The great paradox in Christianity is that humility is the pathway to glory.  We should often evaluate whether our opinion of ourselves is modest or if we have an overestimation of our own importance or position.  Sometimes we think we are too good for our own good.  It has been said that great men have a feeling that the greatness is not of them, but through them.  It doesn't take long for us to learn that our humility is very fragile and can be an elusive virtue.  As soon as we think we have it should be a vivid reminder that we don’t!  That’s a big part of the problem in humanity. When we finally achieve humility, we get proud of ourselves for being humble and start crying out for recognition.  Then it's back to the drawing board.  Many people believe that humbling themselves carries a connotation that they are devalued.  But that is exactly opposite of what God wants us to believe.  He values every hair on our head.  Everything we do and everything we say carries value to the extent that we will be judged by our “idle” or “unproductive” words.  Being a born-again child of God puts us in a league above all creation because we are children of promise, those who are inheriting the Kingdom of God.  Who could be more valuable than that?  

We are told in 1 Peter 5:6 to “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” (BRG)  There’s a simple test to determine your level of humility and it has to do with the amount of credit you are willing to take.  A humble person knows that whatever good they are able to do is inspired and accomplished by God’s Holy Spirit working through them.  Just as a royal family member knows they were born into their position and their skills and abilities have come from what their earthly Fathers have paved and prepared for them, children of God should know that all good that comes from them is actually coming through them by God’s great mercy and grace.  Jesus said apart from Him we could do nothing.  Nothing of value that carries eternal weight comes from you or me.  It comes directly from the throne of God.  A humble person gives God the credit and the glory because a humble person has come to understand who Jesus really is…He is our everything!  We are told in John 1:3 “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (NIV)   That truth should speak volumes to our prideful hearts.  Think about all the wonderful things that have been created in this earth.  From light bulbs to television to refrigerators to gas engines and all the other things that make our lives convenient and fills our days with joy and helps us be a blessing to others…it all came from the Lord…every great idea, every invention, all wisdom and understanding.  All we are and all we will ever become is by the grace of God.  Take a good analysis of your heart today and determine whether you are exalting yourself or your Lord. We cannot exalt ourselves and Him at the same time.  Give the glory to God for who you are and what you have been able to accomplish in this world, and He will crown you with victory in every circumstance.

A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. ~Proverbs 29:23 (NASB)

Do you seek the credit for victories, or do you use them to bring God glory? What victories have you given the credit to the Lord for lately?

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