12. Real Change Starts With Humility

I’m so glad that you are here this morning was we begin to wind down our sermon series, Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Do you know what the greatest obstacle is in accomplishing your goals and dreams in life? It’s you. Yep, take a long look in the mirror and you will see the one thing standing in your way…and it’s not your abilities or drive or even persistence. It’s your pride. Your overconfidence. In all my life, my biggest obstacle has been my pride…my overconfidence in who I think I am.

Nitin Nohira wrote this article in the Washington Post entitled, "You're Not as Virtuous as You Think”. Let me give you a little background on the article, and then I will read an interesting quote.

A 1961 research project asked ordinary people to send extremely painful electric shocks to a stranger. (There is a movie about the man behind this experiment called, The Experimenter) (Unbeknownst to the participants, the fake shocks were only delivered to an actor.) A staggering 65 percent of the subjects obeyed. Most of us are confident we would have been in the 35 percent who refused to go along with this program. Just out of curiosity, how many of you would send an electrical shock to a stranger?

But in his essay, "You're Not as Virtuous as You Think," Nitin Nohria, the Dean of the Harvard Business School, has a name for this "gap between how people believe they would behave and how they actually behave." He calls it "moral overconfidence." Nohria insight fully notes our need for repentance and confession:

In the lab, in the classroom and beyond, we tend to be less virtuous than we think we are. And a little moral humility could benefit us all. Moral overconfidence is on display in politics, in business, in sports—really, in all aspects of life … There are political candidates who say they won't use attack ads until, late in the race, they're moral overconfidence is in line with what studies find to be our generally inflated view of ourselves. We rate ourselves as above-average drivers, investors, and employees, even though math dictates that can't be true for all of us. We also tend to believe we are less likely than the typical person to exhibit negative qualities and to experience negative life events: to get divorced, become depressed, or have a heart attack.

“Our generally inflated view of ourselves.”

How many of us right now are really hoping that the person sitting next to you are hearing those words?! When probably the real truth, WE need to hear those words.

What is really keeping from growing at a follower of Jesus is you. It’s funny how we all have a huge list of excuses, when the truth is what’s keeping us from growing as a disciple of Jesus is our pride, our ego.

It’s our pride that keeps us from hearing how Jesus wants us to live our lives, and then admitting that we need to live that out. It’s our ego that keeps us from admitting that we need help on this journey of following Jesus.

If you feel stress or are anxious when it comes to your life in Jesus…or just life in general, more than likely it’s because you have an over inflated view of yourself and your abilities. For you and me to finish this journey of following Jesus, we need someone to speak truth into our lives, AND we need a humble heart to receive it.

We were with friends at an open-air street fair when we spotted a mechanical bull that tries to buck people off. They guy operating the bull said, "Watching it isn't nearly as fun as riding." So I told the bull operator that I wanted to ride. He took one look at my middle-aged body and asked, "Are you sure?" That guaranteed that I would not back down.

He explained to me that the bull has 12 levels of difficulty. "It might not be easy," he said, "but the key is you have to stay centered on the bull. You have to follow the bull. You have to shift your center of gravity as the bull moves."

So I got on the bull and it started slow, and then it started moving faster and jostling around, and I was holding on real tight. Then I remembered his advice, so I loosened up, and it kept moving faster and jolting and bucking and jumping. I was hanging on sideways. My arms were flailing around all over the place. I just hung on and finally the bull slowed down and it stopped, and I was still on the bull. It wasn't pretty but I made it. I imagined how surprised the operator of the bull would be that I had triumphed. So I looked over at him and he looked over at me. Shaking his head, he smiled and said, "Nice job. That was level one."

Sometimes, the most important and helpful truths you need to hear are the hardest…most difficult things to hear. This is why so many people, like me, and more then likely you, find themselves stalled out on their discipleship journey. If you want your journey with Jesus to be a life of clarity and contentment, it all starts with humility. Let me show you what I’m talking about.

If you have a Bible or device, find Psalm 131. If you are using the YouVersion Bible app, look for Events. Then search for Iowa City Church. All of the Scriptures and Sermon notes will be right there on your device.

If you are new with us, we are on this journey through the Psalms of Ascent. 15 Worship songs the Jewish pilgrims would sing as they journeyed to Jerusalem for one of their big feasts. As they traveled up the mountain to Jerusalem they would sing these worship songs as reminders of their long journey of obedience following God. We are using them in a similar manner, reminding each of us of our long journey of obedience following Jesus.

If you would join me in standing, I’ll read these words of worship: Psalm 131:1-3

Psalm 131:1–3 NIV

1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

PRAY

We learn from the introduction that this Psalm is written by King David. If one was to look at David’s life, you would realize that his greatest triumphs came when he humbled himself and trusted the LORD, his victory over Goliath for example. However, his greatest failures came when he was proud or haughty—which means to think too highly of yourself, his affair with Bathsheba and the murder, cover up of her husband are well known examples. If there is one who understands the importance of humility it’s David.

Pride, the first sin committed, Satan and his fall or Adam and Eve and their fall. Pride. Probably the most prominent and common sin. The desire to put ourselves, our lives and our way above. To define life on our own terms. Pride, it’s probably summed up best by the legendary Frank Sinatra: “I did it my way.” Which ironically is probably one of the most common songs played at funerals I’ve done.

Pride says, “I’ll do it my way.” Humility says, “Jesus, I’ll do it your way.”

That’s whole point behind discipleship. We commit our lives to Jesus. We are transformed by Jesus. We live on mission with Jesus. So, how did Jesus live out his life? Full of pride? Full of humility? The apostle Paul writes this about Jesus.

Philippians 2:3–5 (NIV)

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

We live in a culture…a world that says fight for self…you do you…no matter what it takes or who gets hurt. A Jewish carpenter, rabbi is still talked about and followed two thousand years later, why? Because he chose to live a life of humility…the the point where he died on the cross for our sins. He won by laying himself down. Our lives have been transformed through the humble life of Jesus, and now he reigns and King of kings and Lord of lords.

We who are his followers need to take this to heart. If we are to be transformed by Jesus, we have to have the humility to accept his transformation…his teaching…his way of life. A disciple of Jesus pursues a life of humility.

Frederica Mathews-Green in her book, The Jesus Prayer says this:

“Ego builds a cardboard fortress that humility must, everyday, tear down.”

The truth is we will always struggle with our over confidence, pride and ego. However, the way of Jesus calls us to intentionally tear down our cardboard fortresses by pursuing a life of humility.

Here’s why humility is so hard: We struggle to trust that everything is going to be alright if we give up control. Humility says I trust you. I trust you Jesus. Look back at what David writes in the Psalm.

Psalm 131:2 NIV

2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

He uses an interesting metaphor; like a child weaned with its mother. In Jewish culture and child is weaned from nursing around the age of three (don’t judge). So the picture is that of a child, snuggled in next to his or her mother…not fussy, or crying for food, but calm, secure knowing that their mother will take care, provide and protect.

Humility brings us into a closer, trusting relationship with Jesus. The truth is, we all at some point, and maybe this is where you are now, are whining, and fussing with Jesus. Maybe your having a wrestling match with him because you want to live life your way. So this raises a great question: Do you want Jesus simply for what he gives you, or are you willing to humble your heart and conform your life to the life he wants to give?

Jesus talks about the importance of humility in regards to the kingdom of God.

Matthew 18:1–5 NIV

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

In Jewish culture, it was laughable to consider children as the greatest. What did they have to offer? However, Jesus puts forth this crazy notion that to enter the kingdom and even be great in the kingdom must become like a child. This is crazy talk…right?

Eugene Peterson describes it this way:

“Jesus gave us the picture of a child as a model for Christian faith not because of the child’s helplessness but because of the child’s willingness to be led, to be taught, to be blessed.” ~ Eugene Peterson

Maybe the one thing that is keeping you from transformation in your life is simply pursuing and attitude of humility. Ask any coach, give them players who are coachable. Ask any manager, they want employees who are willing to listen. Ask any teacher, they want students who are teachable. To walk this journey of long obedience in the same direction, Jesus is looking for humble followers who he can transform.

What is holding us back? Will it turn out alright? If I let go, will I fall? If I give up control, will things still be alright? Ja,es writes:

James 4:10 NIV

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

A daily pursuit of humility will always lead us to contentment.

Here are some ways that you can begin to practice humility in your life:

What is something that Jesus wants you to do that pride is keeping you from doing?

What is something that someone you trust has been telling you that you are too stubborn to hear?

Is it possible that the hurtful truth someone told you is actually something you need to hear?

Submit your life to following Jesus.

Submit to someone in a discipleship relationship.

The Lord’s Supper provides us a weekly moment to intentionally humble ourselves to Jesus.

Timothy Keller writes this in his book, Hidden Christmas: “Christmas is about receiving presents, but consider how challenging it is to receive certain kinds of gifts. Some gifts by their very nature make you swallow your pride. Imagine opening a present on Christmas morning from a friend … and it's a dieting book. Then you take off another ribbon and wrapper and you find it is another book from another friend, Overcoming Selfishness. If you say to them "Thank you so much," you are in a sense admitting, "For indeed I am [overweight] and obnoxious." In other words, some gifts are hard to receive, because to do so is to admit you have flaws and weaknesses and you need help. Perhaps on some occasion you had a friend who figured out you were in financial trouble and came to you and offered a large sum of money to get you out of your predicament. If that has ever happened to you, you probably found that to receive the gift meant swallowing your pride. There has never been a gift offered that makes you swallow your pride to the depths that the gift of Jesus Christ requires us to do so. Christmas means that we are so lost, so unable to save ourselves, that nothing less than the death of the Son of God himself could save us. That means you are not somebody who can pull yourself together and live a moral and good life.”

You are not as good as you think you are, but that’s alright, Jesus is not only good…he’s perfect in every way and he wants to give you life. However, the only way it happens is if you humble yourself before Jesus.