Humble Pride

"And all of you, serve each other in humility, for

'God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.'

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor." 1 Peter 5:5-6 NLT

I got curious. I have my own definition of what humility means but what does it mean to God? Well, I got my Hayford's Bible Handbook out and looked it up.

It starts out with what I already knew,"modesty, lowliness, humble-mindedness, a sense of moral insignificance, and a humble attitude of unselfish concern for the welfare of others."

This is where some people stop. They take this part of the definition and run with it. They base their whole spiritual life on it and make it a platform. And there's nothing wrong with that--to a point.

The point that it becomes trouble is when some take it so far that in their humbleness, they become somewhat prideful. They make sure that everyone knows that they are humble. They take no ownership of what the LORD is doing through them. They insist that they won't, can't, absolutely forbid themselves from taking any credit for what the LORD is using their life for. How sad!

The next part of the definition is, "It is a total absence of arrogance, conceit and haughtiness." This line, I think is the balance. God wants us to be humble, but not to the point that we are arrogant in it.

God has made us all to be vessels for HIM. We know that. But when we humble ourselves to the point that we take all the glory from us, we take it also from HIM. When others comment on something we have done, in the GLORY of the our FATHER, we need to GRACIOUSLY accept the compliment, accepting with the acknowledgment that it was THROUGH our FATHER that we were blessed.

Does this make sense to you? I know there is a fine line, but just pray before anything you do, and the outcome will be from the LORD and you will be able to accept it in the right frame of spirit.

"God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever!" 1Peter 4:10-11 NLT