Philippians 2:3 makes it clear; God promotes those who humble themselves and opposes those who are full of pride.
There are moments when we believe we have the right answers. We are convinced we are doing the right thing. Maybe we have a lot of life experience, or we have strong opinions based on what we have seen and heard. However, believing our way is the only way forward has a name. It’s often called pride.
Pride really does come before the fall in today’s passage. Jeremiah has the unenviable task of trying to get through to God’s people. Their pride and arrogance has yet again caused division between them and God.
Jeremiah 13:9-11 says, “This is what the Lord says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem. These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing! As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.
There are other times in the Word where prophetic warning brought change. Wayward leaders humbled themselves before a mighty God. Much to Jonah’s chagrin, the repentant people of Nineveh were spared. King Manasseh whose evil was an abomination to the LORD, humbled himself. In response, God restored him. King Ahab, husband to Jezebel, repented, humbled himself (for a season) and was released from the destruction God had for him. 1 Kings 21: 27-29 says, And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”
Even the apostle Paul, seeing the errors of his ways, repented and became a mighty vessel for God.
Walking in humility takes self awareness and courage. We like our ways. We like our own opinions. But how do they measure up against a humble heart? Here are a few questions that we may ask ourselves, to see if we are walking in humility:
Am I teachable by anyone?
Can I receive correction or do I automatically defend myself and argue?
Do I seek counsel?
Do I freely admit my mistakes and failures?
Am I easily offendable?
Am I able to forgive?
According to the stories of repentance and humility in God’s Word, a leopard can change it’s spots (Jeremiah 13:23). Even when we struggle with pride, we can move forward – through humility. When we do, God demonstrates over and over that he notices, and it brings great reward.
LORD, I repent of any pride. You are not interested in me having low self-esteem, but you also do not want me to be puffed up with arrogance. If there are areas you see regarding pride, LORD, I humbly ask for your help. Show me. I do not want to suffer like the Israelites in exile. I want to walk in the freedom and fullness you have for me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for challenging me to look more like Jesus. I receive that today with your help. AMEN