The Wisdom of Humility
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Proverbs 11:2
If there is one quality that is consistently despised by the world but consistently honored by God, it is humility.
Our culture tells us to stand tall, promote ourselves, and look out for number one.
We live in an age of social media where people measure themselves by likes, followers, and recognition.
Pride is celebrated as strength, while humility is often dismissed as weakness.
Yet the Bible teaches the exact opposite.
Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
That verse could not be clearer—pride is the path to disgrace, but humility is the pathway to wisdom.
Pride says, “I don’t need God, and I don’t need anyone else.”
Humility says, “I am dependent on God, and I will treat others with grace.”
Pride builds walls, but humility builds bridges.
Pride pushes people away, but humility draws people in.
And most importantly, pride shuts us off from God’s blessing, while humility opens us up to receive His wisdom.
This morning, we will see how humility is essential both in our relationship with God and in our relationships with people.
We will learn that humility is not weakness—it is wisdom.
In the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington, the well-known African-American educator and leader, to dine with him at the White House.
Many in the nation were shocked by Roosevelt’s humility in recognizing Washington’s character and wisdom, because in that era, pride and prejudice ruled much of society.
Washington himself once told a story that showed his own humility.
He was walking through a wealthy neighborhood when a woman stopped him and asked if he would like to earn some money chopping wood for her.
She had not recognized him, even still the famous educator smiled and agreed.
After he had finished the job, one of the woman’s neighbors pulled her aside and explained who he was.
Embarrassed, she hurried to apologize, but Washington put her at ease by saying, “It’s perfectly all right. I enjoy doing something useful now and then.”
That kind of humility—choosing service over pride—gave Washington greater influence than arrogance ever could.
If humility leads us to wisdom, then pride does the opposite.
Before we can understand the beauty of humility, we must see the ugliness of pride.
Proverbs 11:2 begins, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame.”
That verse reminds us that pride is not harmless—it is destructive.
Let’s begin by looking at…
I. The Danger of Pride
I. The Danger of Pride
Pride takes many forms, but Scripture highlights two of the most destructive consequences it brings.
The first is that pride inevitably…Leads to Shame
A. Pride Leads to Shame
A. Pride Leads to Shame
Proverbs 11:2 says clearly, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame.”
Pride makes us think we know better than God, but it always ends in regret.
Proverbs 16:18 echoes this truth:
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride blinds us to our weaknesses and sets us up for failure.
They said of the Titanic, that it was an “unsinkable ship.”
The builders were so confident that they cut corners on lifeboats and ignored warnings about icebergs.
Pride led to a great tragedy and a lot of shame.
Pride in our own wisdom,
Pride in our own strength,
Pride in our own success—all of it will eventually collapse and bring shame.
But pride not only destroys our reputation and our outcomes—it also damages our relationship with God.
We see secondly…
B. Pride Blocks God’s Grace
B. Pride Blocks God’s Grace
James 4:6 says,
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
To be resisted by God is a frightening place to be.
It means standing on the opposite side of the Almighty.
Pride shuts the door to God’s blessing because it says, “I don’t need God.”
Humility, on the other hand, opens the door to His grace.
King Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26 was blessed by God as long as he sought the Lord.
1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.
King Uzziah had some great victories.
He built up the kingdom of Judah as well as building up and strengthening a great army.
He created fighting machines that had never been seen before to shoot arrows and throw great stones at the enemies.
But when he grew strong, his heart was lifted up in pride,
16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
The priest Azariah went into the holy place after him him along with 80 other priests, to stop the King.
They told him this is not your place to burn incence unto God, it is for the priests to do.
This was a sacraligious action.
But the Bible says…
19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar.
20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him.
21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
God struck him with leprosy because of his pride.
You might say, “But Pastor, what does that have to do with us?”
The Bible says that the Old Testament saint’s stories were written for us…
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
So we can learn from their examples what not to do so that we don’t have to experience it ourselves.
So let’s learn from it!
We see that Pride not only ruins relationships with people—it cuts us off from God’s help and favor.
If pride leads to shame and blocks the grace of God, then humility must be the key that unlocks God’s wisdom.
That’s why Proverbs says, “With the lowly is wisdom.”
So let’s look at…
II. The Definition of Humility
II. The Definition of Humility
If pride brings shame, then we need to understand what humility truly is.
The Bible does not leave us guessing—it gives us a clear picture of humility.
Humility is not weakness or self-hatred.
It is an accurate view of ourselves before God and others, grounded in truth.
Let’s look at three aspects of this definition:
A. Humility Before God
A. Humility Before God
Humility begins with our posture before God.
Micah 6:8 calls us to “walk humbly with thy God.”
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?
To walk humbly with God means to recognize His greatness and our dependence on Him.
It means we acknowledge that He is the Creator and we are the creation.
It means we submit to His authority rather than insisting on our own way.
Humility is not thinking less of ourselves—it is thinking rightly of ourselves in light of God’s holiness.
Isaiah, when he saw the Lord high and lifted up, cried out, “Woe is me! For I am undone” (Isaiah 6:5).
Seeing God clearly gave him a proper view of himself.
But humility is not only vertical toward God—it is also horizontal toward others.
The truth is if we keep humble before our God we will also see…
B. Humility Toward Others
B. Humility Toward Others
Philippians 2:3 gives us this definition:
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
To esteem others better does not mean denying your worth—it means refusing to put yourself above others.
It is seeing people as made in God’s image and treating them with dignity.
True humility recognizes that life is not all about us.
C.S. Lewis once said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Humility in definition means a mind that is turned outward in love, not inward in pride.
When humility is rightly defined before God and toward others, Scripture shows us the principle that flows out of it.
C. Humility Produces Wisdom
C. Humility Produces Wisdom
Proverbs 22:4 says,
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, and honour, and life.
This verse shows that humility is inseparably linked with wisdom.
Pride closes our ears, but humility opens us to receive truth from God and counsel from others.
Augustine once wrote, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
Humility, by definition, is the soil in which wisdom grows.
Where pride builds walls, humility opens doors for God’s wisdom to enter.
That is what humility is—dependence on God, deference toward others, and the soil that produces wisdom.
But definitions are only the beginning.
The question is, how does humility actually show itself in daily life?
That brings us to …
III. The Display of Humility
III. The Display of Humility
Wisdom is not only something we believe—it is something we live.
So how does humility look when it walks into the room?
Let’s see three ways humility displays itself in daily life.
A. Humility in Seeking God’s Will
A. Humility in Seeking God’s Will
A humble heart does not demand its own way but submits to God’s way.
Psalm 25:9 says,
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: And the meek will he teach his way.
This verse shows that God delights to guide those who come with a teachable spirit.
A humble person prays before they act, listens before they speak, and waits before they rush ahead.
Just as a student who is willing to learn receives the most from the teacher, so the humble believer receives the most wisdom from God.
Humility not only shows itself in how we relate to God—it also shows itself in how we treat the people around us.
B. Humility in Serving Others
B. Humility in Serving Others
Jesus taught in Mark 9:35,
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
In God’s kingdom, greatness is measured not by how many serve you, but by how many you serve.
Wisdom in relationships comes when we choose to serve others instead of competing with them or demanding from them.
If you get together with your extended family for a family dinner but everyone is only concerned about being served—it can quickly turn into conflict.
But when each person serves the other, the atmosphere becomes one of peace and joy.
Humility allows you to step into someone else’s need, even when it costs us something.
Another way humility displays itself is in how we respond when others point out our faults.
C. Humility in Receiving Correction
C. Humility in Receiving Correction
Proverbs 12:15 says,
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
A proud person refuses to be corrected, but a humble person sees correction as a gift.
The wise Christian welcomes counsel because they know they cannot see everything clearly on their own.
An athlete who refuses to listen to a coach will never grow in skill.
But the one who listens and makes changes improves.
Wisdom grows when we humbly accept reproof and adjust our ways to align with truth.
So we see that humility, once defined, is meant to be displayed.
It shows itself in seeking God’s will, serving others, and receiving correction.
This is where wisdom becomes visible—not just in what we know, but in how we live.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Proverbs 11:2 tells us that pride always leads to shame, but humility will lead us to wisdom.
Pride is dangerous because it blinds us, it destroys our relationships, and it even sets us against God Himself.
Humility, on the other hand, is defined by our dependence on God, by our deference toward others, and by our openness to receive wisdom.
And humility displays itself in daily life—by seeking God’s will, by serving others, and by receiving correction.
In short, humility is not weakness—it is wisdom in action.
The ultimate example of humility is Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:8 tells us that …
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
If anyone had reason to cling to pride, it was the Son of God, yet He set it all aside to serve and to save.
Through His humility, we have eternal life.
Through His example, we learn how to live wisely in this world.
Abraham Lincoln was once accused by his critics of being too humble and too lenient in leadership.
They mistook his humility for weakness.
But it was his humility—his willingness to listen, to forgive, and to put others before himself—that made him one of the most respected leaders in history.
He once said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.”
That is not weakness—that is wisdom.
And if one of the greatest leaders in history needed to humble himself before God, how much more do we?
So how is your pride today?
Are you clinging to your own way and reaping shame?
Or are you walking in humility and receiving God’s wisdom?
God’s Word is clear: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Wisdom is not found in lifting yourself up, but in bowing yourself down before God.
The lowly is where wisdom is found.
