The Kingdom Manifesto - 3

The Kingdom Manifesto – 3

God Blesses the Humble

Introduction

A recent study done by analyzing the American Freshman Survey, which has been asking students to rate themselves compared to their peers since 1966, shows college student’s unprecedented levels of self-infatuation.

Psychologist Jean Twenge and her colleagues compiled the data and found that over the last four decades there's been a dramatic rise in the number of students who describe themselves as being 'above average' in the areas of academic ability, drive to achieve, mathematical ability, and self-confidence. All of this in spite of the fact that national test scores are plummeting in the opposite direction. There is a huge disconnect between people’s views of themselves and their actual accomplishments.

We live in a culture where it seems humility is on the decline. That, in spite of the evidence, believing ourselves to be incredibly gifted and successful. To the point now that people believe they have to appear that they’re doing well. So now you must build your platform, to make yourself look good, to be in control of every aspect of your life, because how you view yourself and what people think of you are the most important aspect of life. We must do everything we can to keep up the image. All of that falls into the category of pride.

Matthew 5:5 - God blesses those who are humble for they will inherit the whole earth.

In Christian circles it is understood that one does not pray for a couple things...patience is one. The other is humility. You don’t pray for those because God just might answer with a yes. And there is only one way to get those things...to be put in scenarios where they are forced.

So why is that a joke? Because we have a false view of humility. We misunderstand what it really is. We have to talk first about what it’s not - pushover, doormat, spineless, martyr. In fact, many of your translations will put this word as ‘meek.’ We do a word association with meek and we come up with weak.

We may not like arrogant people, but we really don’t like humble people either, based on that view of it. We don’t respect those who are spineless, who function as doormats and get walked all over by others.

TS - So, if God blesses humility, what is it that he is blessing?

The word that Jesus uses here for humble or meek is an unusual word (praus) that has a variety of ways it can be translated. Some include friendly, mild, gentle.

Aristotle used this word to describe the balance that should exist in people regarding anger. You don’t want to be someone who is bland and never angry, but you don’t want to be the hothead either. This praus was the middle ground.

One scholar said that if that image was used, you could say, “God blesses those who are angry at the right times and never angry at the wrong times.” Not too bad.

I think the best image of how to understand this humility Jesus blesses comes from the world of horse-racing. In ancient Greek literature, the horse that won the race was called the meekest horse in the race. The most praus horse in the race. So, we know it doesn’t mean weakness or doormat. It means strength under control. It was the horse who was most in submission to its rider. Massive strength, but under the careful, watchful guidance of the jockey. That is praus. That is humility. Submission.

Notice the progression of the Beatitudes so far:

-I acknowledge my spiritual poverty, that I cannot do things on my own, I need God.

-I mourn over my sin and the sin of others that we are broken and need God.

-Therefore, I submit myself to him and his leadership in my life.

Really, humility is merely the acceptance of reality...I need someone else to take the reins of my life. God blesses those who are humble. Who are under his control.

We tend to like the idea that God blesses those who are in control. Of course, God’s blessing seems to be on those who have gotten their life in control and have a steady hand on all their issues. God helps those who help themselves, right? No... not in there.

God doesn’t bless those who are in control. He blesses those who are under control. Humility is placing yourself under God’s control. Submitting yourself to him and his leadership, realizing my life is not about me, but about him.

TS - So, what does this look like in someone’s life? What does it change about me when I see that God blesses those who are humble?

1. HUMILITY CHANGES HOW I VIEW GOD

God is no longer seen as a wonderful addition to my life. Not someone that I worship, talk to, hear about 1 day out of 7. He isn’t added on so that I feel better about myself. He is my driving force. I allow him to guide everything.

As kids grow up parents have these little moments of celebration at different stages of independence. And I mean celebration! They hold their head up. They sit up. Can feed themselves. Gain mobility. Talk. Though sometimes we wish we could go back on some of them (buckle in a chair, glue lips together), we celebrate their independence. That is how it’s supposed to go.

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking our relationship with God is the same. That as we grow, as we mature, we eventually don’t need God as much. We grow more and more independent of him. And God our Father claps his hands at our ability to do things without him.

The bible actually presents the opposite reality. That as we grow closer to God, our need for him doesn’t decrease...it increases. I see even more clearly how spiritually impoverished I am, my level of mourning over my sin goes up and my desire to submit to his leadership increases. The Apostle Paul models this progression for us:

1 Corinthians 15:9 – least of all apostles (AD 53)

Ephesians 3:8 – least of all the saints (AD 62)

1 Timothy 1:15 – chief of sinners (AD 64)

The more mature I become, the more I rely on him. The more humble I am, the more dependent I become. The less I look to myself; the more I look to him.

John Newton (Amazing Grace) – “If you walk closely with God for 40 years, you will have a much lower opinion of yourself than you have now.”

Jesus is Lord. He is King. He is in control. He is Lord of all...and if he is not lord of all, he is not lord at all. And when we confess that as true, that Jesus is Lord, the relational dynamic with him changes. He is in charge. God blesses those who are humble.

2. HUMILITY CHANGES HOW I VIEW MYSELF

In humility, I am no longer concerned for myself. I am not concerned about my level of control. Not because I don’t care about myself, but because I know who is in control really, and it’s not me. I don’t have to own the burden of being god in my life. There is only one God...and it’s him.

Later on in the sermon on the mount, Jesus addresses this idea of our attempt to control our own lives.

Matthew 6:19, 25 - “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal...That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

Our concern in our lives isn’t to be about us, but him. I am under control...my life is about Jesus, not about me. So, I seek him above all else.

Matthew 6:31-33 - “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

We also have to guard as well against the other side of the pendulum swing, an unhealthy extreme that shows up among Christians. I call it worm theology. The idea is that because God made us from dirt, we must stay there the rest of our lives. I’m worthless. Nothing good about me. I’m a waste of space, oh but God is good.

It is ok to acknowledge reality (but in humility). You have gifts, you have talents, you have resources, you have potential for incredible impact in the world. But you have to see that all of that was given to you by God.

Again, humility is accepting reality. The bible doesn’t say to hate yourself because you are so bad. It says in Romans 12:3 not to think of yourself more highly that you should. Have an accurate understanding of reality. As Tim Keller has put it, Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

While we may be spiritually poor and incapable of standing before God on our own, that same God dearly loves us. Back to chapter 6.

Matthew 6:26-30 - Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

God blesses those who are humble.

3. HUMILITY CHANGES HOW I VIEW MY LIFE

Humility reminds me that life is not about me. Not about attention on me. Not about power for me. Not about security for me. But instead life is about God’s kingdom. Again, I’m not in control, I’m under control. Let’s see how that shows up in different areas of life:

Career:

-In control - I work for me. Step on who I need to step on. Cut corners. All I can do to get ahead to make a name for myself.

-Under control - Recognize I am working not for me but for God. That I have a good work ethic, work with integrity, all because I work for God (Colossians 3:23). And those good things allow my life to stand out so that I can have the opportunity to show the difference Jesus has made in my life.

Marriage:

-In control - Make it all about my needs, how happy I am. I see my spouse as primarily the person in whom I find fulfillment. They are there to place me on a pedestal, so that I can get my way.

-Under control - I serve my spouse. I submit myself to them and seek their best, their good. I view my role as being their helper, their guide, placing them on the pedestal. Primarily so that they can come to know Jesus better.

Parenting:

-In control - I lord over my kids. My main goal is there good behavior, because their bad behavior reflects on me and makes people think I’m less than perfect. So, I overpower, I control them...dominating them into submission.

-Under control - I parent my children the way God has parented me. In love, kindness, patience and forgiveness. I bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord because I am seeking their eternal best.

Relationships:

-In control - In friendships I try to get my way and utilize the connections to make me happy and fill a hole in my life. In dating, I make it all about my needs and how this person can meet them.

-Under control - I enjoy the benefits of friendship, yes, but make it my goal to allow Jesus to use me in that relationship to love them, serve them and lead them closer to Jesus. In dating, I submit my will to Jesus and follow his instructions on how to treat them with respect, honoring the Lord with my sexual desires, wanting them to know the Lord.

Can we admit that this is difficult? Not an easy way to life. This is why Jesus said that the only way to follow him is to deny self, take up our cross and follow him. Because he is in charge. Not easy because all of me wants to be in control. I want to steer my own ship. Be the master of my own destiny. The self-made man.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. God blesses those who are humble. And as difficult as it may be to daily realize that I am to place myself under the lordship, the control of Jesus Christ...look at the reward.

Matthew 5:5 - God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

They inherit it all. There may be sacrifice now, but all of it is worth it.

Matthew 16:24-26 - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Life in God’s kingdom is most definitely upside down. But oh, so much better. And we don’t have to figure this out on our own. We simply look to our Lord as the example to follow.

Philippians 2:5-11 - 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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