Wounds That Heal – Humility

Wounds That Heal – Humility is a tricky topic.  If you tell someone that you are humble, did you just have sinful pride in your humility? 🤔

Try to Forget

The first time I have noticed public humiliation is middle school. Yes, it can happen earlier than that, but on a grand and horrifying scale middle school can be crushing. Not only are these children keenly critical of the children around them. They are rarely comfortable in their own skin. So flash back to middle school or a dinner party with Jesus – Is there anything worse than being at a dinner party and sitting down next to your friends, having a grand ole time only to be told that you have been rude by choosing your seat. You have to move down. That’s incredibly awkward. Jesus has some advice from Luke 14.

Risky Advice

10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. There is some risk here, isn’t there. What happens when you pick the lowest chair, sitting next to the not so cool crowd. What’s the problem? What if no one notices and you stay there all night!? Jesus just stabs sinful pride in the heart and turns the knife. What is Jesus’ answer to the unasked question – what if no one notices!?

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is God noticing. Of course, people don’t always notice! This is where humility comes in. It dovetails with character. You don’t need praise to do the right thing because doing the right thing is its own reward.

Want to hear more?  Watch this week’s message from our series, Wounds That Heal – Humility.