The Seven Cardinal Virtues: Humility

Text: Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 9:30-37

Theme: A lifestyle of humility stands in sharp contrast to the values of the world. This sermon reveals why humility is valued by God and the steps to living in true biblical humility.

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity makes a keen observation about gospel-humility at the very end of his chapter on pride. “If we were to meet a truly humble person, Lewis says, we would never come away from meeting them thinking they were humble. They would not be always telling us they were a nobody (because a person who keeps saying they are a nobody is actually a self-obsessed person). The thing we would remember from meeting a truly gospel-humble person is how much they seemed to be totally interested in us. Because the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.”

Jesus was constantly having to pound home the importance of humility in the lives of his disciples. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus said, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." It was a lesson that the disciples were slow to learn. In Matthew 20 we see the brothers James and John attempting to out-maneuver their fellow disciples in achieving special position in Jesus’ coming kingdom ... and using the mom to do so. In the chapter we see their mother come to Jesus with a request:

" . . . She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom." (Matthew 20:21, KJV). Learning that

Jesus’ aunt was actively promoting her two sons, the other disciples went spastic, "And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren." (Matthew 20:24, KJV)

To put it mildly, it really bent ‘em out of shape. Even at the Last Supper, envy, rivalry and pride surfaced among the disciples (Luke 22:24). We live in a proud and egotistical generation. People push and promote themselves in ways that would have been abhorrent and totally unacceptable only a generation ago. Yet in a great part of modern culture, pride, exaggerated self-esteem, and shameless self-promotion have come to be redefined not only as virtuous but as the supreme virtue.

In American, our culture’s obsession with self-esteem, self-fulfillment, and self-glory has led to a narcissism and sense of entitlement that seems unparalleled in our history. Tragically, this cult of self has even found its way into evangelical Christianity. Books, seminars, conferences, magazines, and organizations that promote self-interest under the guise of personal spiritual development abound. The movement has found little resistance in the church, which often seems determined to beat the world at its own fleshly game. From countless sources, claims are heard that God’s great design for His people is health, prosperity, success, happiness, and—of course—self-fulfillment.

The Bible’s teaching of suffering and cross-bearing and humility for Christ’s sake are either ignored altogether or foolishly explained away. Like the disciple’s, we frequently argue about who’s number one instead of becoming a slave to all.

This evening, I want you to consider cultivating an attitude of humility.

I. THE REASON FOR HUMILITY

1. the world says one ascends into greatness, but the Bible reveals that one descends into greatness

a. for the believer the way up is to go down

b. the word for this topsy-turvey attitude is humility

1) this is perhaps the most counter-culture virtue of all the cardinal virtues, especially for people grasping for the top

2. we are programmed to be winners at all costs in our culture

ILLUS. Not to long ago, I saw a documentary on the Discovery Channel on the rigorous training the Navel recruits must go through in order to become a Navy Seal. In one section of the show, there were four teams of trainees that were to navigate their inflatable raft over treacherous, high seas in a race to the beach. The team that came in first was congratulated by their training officer. The leader of the team that finished second was asked, “What does that make your?” Without missing a beat, the captain responded, “First Looser, Sir.”

a. being #2 in our culture just doesn’t cut it

3. Christians are to have a different attitude about success, self-esteem, and being #1

A. GREATNESS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES BY HUMBLE SERVICE, NOT IN BEING NUMBER ONE

“And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”” (Mark 9:35, ESV)

1. the logic for pursuing humility as a Christian character trait is pretty simple

a. 1st, Jesus called for us to exercise humility

1) Jesus was pretty blunt about how to do that—we become the willing servant of all

2) being a disciple means deliberately identifying yourself with God’s interests in other people

b. 2nd, Jesus epitomized the mind and life of humility

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:3–8, ESV)

“and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Matthew 20:27–28, ESV)

c. 3rd, Christians are to emulate Jesus

1) the Apostle Paul tells us in the Philippians passage, Let this mind be in you ...

2) even though Jesus deserved to be exalted and worshiped, he emptied himself of his glory, was made in the likeness of men and became a servant

2. does God expect anything less from us?

a. are we above the Master?

b. the Apostle Peter, in calling his readers to humility, reminds us that Christ is our spiritual model " . . . leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps," (1 Peter 2:21) NASB95

3. the reason the believer must cultivate humility is because it was such an essential character trait of our Lord whom we are to emulate

II. THE ROAD TO HUMILITY

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:3–6, ESV)

ILLUS. Humility is not hiding your talents and abilities. If you can paint like Van Gogh, humility does not require you to keep your work under a veil in the basement closet. If you can pitch a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, humility will not encourage you to sit on the bench and never tell the coach.

1. I think that the road to humility is to remember from whence we came

a. it’s seeing ourselves through the lense of the Scriptures

1) true humility is not thinking lowly of ourselves but thinking accurately of ourselves

2. Christ Himself—in His Sermon on the Mount—told His disciples that it is the poor of spirit who are to be congratulated for they are the ones who will see God

a. the word translated poor in Matthew 5:3 is a word which means to be so poor that you have to beg

1) it describes a person who has no means of support

2) it was a term used to describe beggars who had no skill, or who were disabled to a degree that they could not function in a job

b. such people are utterly destitute

3. Jesus says the Kingdom belongs to people who come to God with nothing, who know they are nothing and who have come to understand their spiritual bankruptcy

ILLUS. In Luke, chapter 18, Jesus tells a story that contrasts religious pride vs. spiritual humility. It’s the story of the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee, Jesus says, boasts with pride, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” But the Publican – that is a tax collector – beats his chest in contrition, hangs his head in shame and whispers, “God be merciful to me for I am a sinner.” Jesus concludes the story, saying, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

A. THE POOR IN SPIRIT RECOGNIZE THEIR SPIRITUAL POVERTY OF HEART AND SOUL

1. the road to humility is paved with the stones of brokenness, contrition, and penitence

a. in other words, Jesus says that those who are most truly happy in the Kingdom of God are those who have an absence of pride

b. the truly humble sing along with the hymn writer,

ILLUS

“Not the labors of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

These for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone

In my hand no price I bring, Simply to the cross I cling.”

(Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me by Augustus Toplady)

2. when Jesus says, ‘happy are the poor in spirit’ He is referring to an inner state of being emptied of self

3. the poor in spirit are people who are characterized by . . .

a. 1st, mourning over sin as you contemplate your desperation and agonize over your rebellious condition

1) when you sin, and you realize you’ve sin, does it break your heart knowing that you’ve broken the Father’s heart?

b. 2nd, your mourning is characterized by meekness in approaching the throne of God because you realize your utter unworthiness to do so

1) like Isaiah, you cry out Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts (Isa. 6:5)

c. 3rd, your hunger and thirst for righteousness propels you to your knees in repentance and contrition and you confess—like the publican of Luke 18, God, be merciful to me a sinner!

B. THE POOR IN SPIRIT ARE SATISFIED WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND NOT REWARD

ILLUS. Leonard Bernstein was once asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. He thought for a moment and then replied, “The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm – that’s a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.”

1. friends, humility means always being willing to be second fiddle to Jesus Christ

a. it doesn’t mean being second rate

1) humility is not self-hatred or lack of self-confidence

2) neither does it imply that a person becomes the proverbial doormat, allowing others to walk all over them

3) nor does a humble person look down on themselves or their abilities

4) furthermore, humility is not a call to mediocrity and a substandard quality of life

2. humility simply understands that God is sovereign and you ain’t!

3. you are no more worthy of God’ goodness and grace now then on the day you first came to Christ

a. you’re still a sinner and it is still God’s grace that sustains you

b. there’s no more place for pride in your life now then the day you gave your heart to Jesus

1) you’re still wretched and unworthy in and of yourself

2) whatever is good, whatever is noble, whatever godly features may exist in your life are the work of the Spirit and not you

c. perhaps this is why the Apostle Peter tells his readers," ... and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble,” (1 Peter 5:5) KJV

1) the word clothe in this passage means to tie a piece of clothing to oneself

ILLUS. Peter is probably referring to a common practice of that day where slaves used to knot a white scarf or apron over their clothing to distinguish themselves from freemen.

2) I think that Peter is suggesting that Christians ought to tie humility to their conduct so that everyone is able to recognize them

4. saving grace is a grace that humbles us

a. humility comes when we are stunned by the grace of God

1) when God owed us nothing but hell, he went to the cross for us

2) I was owed hell, but I get heaven because of what the Son did for me!

b. humility comes to those who have a Beatitude-attitude—for those who are spiritually bankrupt and know it

5. always remember that God’s grace does not make you better it merely makes you better off

III. THE REWARD OF HUMILITY

1. Jesus humbled Himself, and then God exalted Him

a. this is what Jesus preached will happen to us

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12, ESV)

b. now the question is, what does that mean?

A. CHRISTIANS SHALL BE EXALTED IN THIS WORLD

1. we will be exalted by His blessings

a. in his sovereign rule, God has seen fit to bless and to elevate those he has chosen

ILLUS. Abraham and Isaac enjoyed God’s spiritual and material blessing (Gen. 24:35; 26:13). In the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River Joshua was exalted as the leader of Israel, (Josh. 3:7). Psalms 75:10 and 112:9 say that those who are righteous are lifted up and given honor. 1 Sam. 2:7–8 tells us that God takes special delight in raising up the poor and humble.

2. we will be exalted by receiving Truth

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." (Matthew 13:16-17, NASB95)

3. He will exalt us by his presence

“For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite." (Isaiah 57:15, NASB95)

a. what more glorious exaltation can the believer desire?

B. WE SHALL BE EXALTED IN GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM

1. He will exalt us when He glorifies us with Christ, His Son

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. " (Romans 8:16-17, NASB95)

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2–3, ESV)

2. He will exalt us by giving us authority to reign with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34, NASB95)

"Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6, NASB95)

3. the question of the evening is: “How do we cultivate an attitude of biblical humility and incorporate it into our character?”

a. let me offer you three suggestions ...

1) by remembering from whence you came

2) by living in daily obedience to Christ

3) by being a servant to others

As a believer, are you cultivating humility in your life or has your pride led you to believe that you are indispensable to your company, or your family, or your church? When a company takes over another company, there is often a sign placed outside the premises announcing, Under New Management. No sign so accurately summarizes what takes place in Christian conversion. When Christ takes over a life, that life is literally under new management. Is God managing your pride?