Posted on 03/25/2017 3:16:39 AM PDT by metmom
March 25
Practical Humility
“Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men” (Philippians 4:5).
Real humility will have a forbearance that is gracious toward others and content with its own circumstances.
Some Greek words have various meanings that are hard to translate into just one English word. This is true of “forbearing” in today’s verse. It can refer to contentment, gentleness, generosity, or goodwill toward others. Some commentators say it means having leniency toward the faults and failures of others. Other scholars say it denotes someone who is patient and submissive toward injustice and mistreatment—one who doesn’t lash back in angry bitterness. It reminds us very much of what we have been considering for the past week—humility.
The humble believer trusts God and does not hold a grudge even though others have unfairly treated him, harmed him, or ruined his reputation. Such a person does not demand his rights. Instead, he will pattern his behavior after his Lord Jesus, who in supreme humility manifested God’s grace to us (Rom. 5:10).
If you are conscientiously following Christ, your behavior will go against the existentialism of modern society. Existentialism claims the right to do or say anything that makes one feel good. Today’s existentialist unbeliever has a twisted logic that says, “If something makes you feel good but hurts me, you can’t do it. But if something makes me feel good but hurts you, I can do it.”
Unhappily, many believers have been caught up in that kind of thinking. They don’t call it existentialism—self-esteem or positive thinking are the preferred terms—but the results are much the same. Such Christians do what satisfies their desires, often at the expense of other people. At its core, this kind of attitude is simply sinful self-love.
In contrast to such self-love, Philippians 4:5 exhorts us to exhibit humble forbearance and graciousness to others. Other Scriptures command us to love our enemies and show mercy to those who sin (Matt. 5:44; 1 Peter 4:8). Such qualities allowed the apostle Paul to say, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil. 4:11). God wants us to be just as humble and content with our circumstances.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask the Lord to help you remain content in the midst of all that happens to you today.
For Further Study
Read Jesus’ parable about mercy and compassion in Matthew 18:21-35.
What parallels do you find between the parable and our study of forbearance? What kind of priority does Jesus give these issues?
Studying God’s Word ping
Fantastic!
Tough prayer here:
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
OH LORD IT’S HARD TO BE HUMBLE by Mac Davis
We have a standing joke in our family that this is my brother’s personal theme song. (Not true at all but he jokes about it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYKWch_MNY0
Since I have learned to laugh at myself I have never run out of humor... and it sure helps with humility.
IOW, deliver me from me.
There's a lot of that kind of thinking running rampant in the world today.
True Christlikeness is being seen less and less often.
Yes, it is tough, especially when you tack “by my spouse” onto each petition.
Humility is knowing you’re not God.
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