Developing Humility

Introduction

Sportscaster and former baseball great Ralph Kiner tells the following story: After the season in which I hit 37 home runs, I asked Pittsburgh Pirate general manager Branch Rickey for a raise. He refused. "I led the league in homers," I reminded him. "Where did we finish?" Rickey asked me. "Last," I replied.  "Well," Rickey said, "We can finish last without you."

Proverbs 30:2–9 KJV

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? 5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

1. HUMILITY HAS A PROPER VIEW OF SELF

A. My Wisdom is Limited

Proverbs 30:2–4 KJV

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

Agur claims to be the most ignorant of men, devoid of ordinary human understanding, learned wisdom and even knowledge of the Holy One.

Psalm 139:6 KJV

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

No one has an understanding of how God can be transcendent yet close enough to humans that he can see into the depth of their souls.

Self-humbling – a way of glorifying a higher wisdom – the knowledge of God’s words in v. 5 – a humble fidelity to God’s will in vv. 6-9.

Brutish – beast-like.

Knowledge of the holy one is parallel to fear of the Lord in

Proverbs 9:10 KJV

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

v. 4 – four questions have a single response: no one. The scope is confined to humanity and shows the inadequacy of human wisdom – we are infinitely less powerful and wise than God must rely on Him and His Word in vv. 5-6.

George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut: "When I was young, I said to God, 'God, tell me the mystery of the universe.' But God answered, 'That knowledge is reserved for me alone.' So I said, 'God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.' Then God said, 'Well, George, that's more nearly your size.' And he told me."

B. My Ways Are Imperfect

Proverbs 30:5–6 KJV

5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Far superior to human wisdom is God’s revealed word – it alone is pure and has not dross or falsehood.

Don’t add – only adds dross.

Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV

2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Results in reproof or chastisement.

C. My Dependence Must be on God

Proverbs 30:7–9 KJV

7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Prays to be kept free of deceit in 8a; and to receive what is sufficient for daily needs in 8c; neither more or less in 8b. An excess in 9ab might fill with arrogance and cause him to denigrate God; and a deficiency might push him into theft in 9c. Concerned not with poverty or even the guilt of theft but the insult to God – be kept free from temptation.

2nd prayer in 8bc is an expression of trust in God. 8c restates 8b, not a 3rd request. Wealth is insufficient for safety and happiness. Poverty is unfortunate but offset by peace and righteousness in 15:16; 16:8; 17:1. Recognizing here the hazards of extremes in temptations that he may not be able to with stand.

It was John Riskin who said, "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion. But really great men have a ... feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them."

Verse 8 – prevented from being deceitful himself – concerned with the state of his soul. “My daily bread” – convenient for me – that which is assigned or appointed – God designates a certain amount of food for everyone’s portion.

Verse 9 – overconfidence that comes with wealth is condemned

Hosea 13:6 KJV

6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

HUMILITY IS AN REQUIREMENT

A. Required for the Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 3:7 KJV

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Required for Wisdom

Proverbs 11:2 KJV

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

You can tell a prideful person because of the shame and insult he brings to others. But true wisdom comes to those who are modest or humble.

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

THE ADVANTAGES OF HUMILITY

A. It is More Rewarding than Pride

Proverbs 16:19 KJV

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

With verse 18 – since pride leads to a fall it is better to be humble than to have victory with a proud person.

Proverbs 25:6–7 KJV

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

This cautions us against self promotion. Don’t exalt yourself beyond your proper station. Sure you can use your gifts and skills to advance in life (18:16; 22:29). But we shouldn’t maneuver to reach above our place.

B. It Leads to Honor

Proverbs 15:33 KJV

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Just as the fear of the Lord is required for wisdom; wisdom then tells us that humility is required for honor.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. -C. S. Lewis

Proverbs 18:12 KJV

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 29:23 KJV

23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

C. It is Blessed by God

Proverbs 3:33–35 KJV

33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Verse 33 – God’s curse is that God sends the situation as punishment – a mans’ family suffers or prospers along with him.

Verse 34 – God mocks the mocker. Scorner – arrogant, impudent – wise in his own eyes; mocks whoever would correct him. (21:24) – contempt for others.

But God blesses and bestows favor on the humble – the favor makes him attractive to other – others approve and generally have favor to him; making that person pleasing to others. The wise (modest) attaint the favor that the proud vainly strive for.

Verse 35 – We see the natural conclusion.

Proverbs 22:4 KJV

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

We note that humility and the fear of the Lord are closely bound together. A proud man doesn’t fear God. “Humility means subjugating oneself to the Lord, so that the believer does what he is commanded, and fear means concern, whereby one avoids what he is warned against.”

CONCLUSION

These two are naturally associated. They are indeed inseparable. Lowliness of spirit is an indispensable characteristic of a religious life. It is in the valley of humiliation that the sinner first meets with God, and comes into a state of reconciliation with Him. The spirit of pride cannot dwell in the same heart with the fear of the Lord. (R. Wardlaw, D.D.)