Humble Man Kneeling Then Crowned by Christby KandD
4:10James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Humble yourselves before the Lord means to bow low in His sight in true lowliness of heart, and His promise is that He Himself will lift up the humble in due time. This humbling is work each person must do for himself and not ask God to do for him, beginning in his own heart and continuing each day. It requires genuine repentance with affliction and mourning over sin, turning from divided loyalties and cleansing hands and heart in obedience to God. It rejects all striving for supremacy and first place, with its pride, vanity, self-sufficiency and envy, as well as tearing down others to build up self. Those who so humble themselves receive grace and salvation from God, who lifts them to honor, wisdom, strength and the gift of the Holy Spirit, following the pattern of Christ who in meekness reached the depths of woe and was therefore exalted above every name.
Command and Context
The command is to humble oneself in the sight of the Lord, with the promise that He Himself will lift up the one who does so. This humbling means drawing near to God in humility and contrition, mourning and turning from sin and pride, confessing wrongs to others, and refusing strife for the highest place or evil judgment of others. It calls for putting away self-exaltation, recognizing human weakness, denying self, taking up the cross, following Christ without complaint, and trusting His all-sufficient grace, which also encourages those who have erred. On the great day of atonement, afflicting the soul before God is better than causing discord.
Humbling belongs together with submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing the hands and heart, purifying the double-minded heart, and turning careless laughter and joy into affliction, mourning, weeping and heaviness over sin. This is the needed work of turning from sin, seeking God earnestly, confessing sins, trusting Him to pardon, and receiving His blessing, for as people draw near to God He draws near to them and lifts them up. Such humbling forbids lifting up and building up self by tearing down brethren, making them appear worst while setting forth own virtues in contrast to win appreciation, by jealousy and faultfinding, tale-bearing and gossip, and speaking evil one of another, since sowing dissension shows the doer is not a branch of the true vine. A humbled and sanctified heart so cleansed and sorrowful over sin is necessary before a person can safely teach or serve, as illustrated by a humble walk learning this lesson.
The instruction means exactly what it says and must be read and studied word by word as for life and practiced in daily life. The work must first be done in the reader's own heart, comparing words, spirit and actions with the Word of God, before reaching lost souls. Humbling self is a duty each must do for himself and not ask God to do, because for God to answer a prayer to be humbled would be by terrible things in righteousness. The proud heart, filled with self-esteem, self-importance and satanic traits, must carefully review life and practice, seek diligently for grace to overcome, cleanse the false tongue, purify the double mind, and stop speaking evil of brethren, and must do this each day in consecration, self-denial and self-sacrifice rather than wait for God to humble it.
One who is lifted up and exalted must humble himself, otherwise God will humble him. God was waiting for those obstructing the work to humble themselves to prepare to pray and to work together earnestly and courageously, and if they refused He would humble them. God humbles unholy selfish ambition and brings down reliance on own strength, for when one gets lifted up in his own eyes and thinks he can do something the Spirit is withdrawn and he goes on in his own strength until overthrown, and letting self-exaltation come in surely leads souls astray and if not overcome proves their ruin. The present time is for humbling before God, while God's time for exalting the meek and lowly, when He will be their light, honor, glory and great reward, will come later in due time at the right time. One who is right can move the arm of God, but a multitude together who are wrong are weak and can effect nothing.
Humility rather than boastful self-confidence is fitting for believers living in solemn times, in the most solemn time amid the perils of the last days. It stands against friendship with the world, pride, vanity, and its folly, levity, jesting and careless foolishness. Humbling is an urgent first concern and first business, especially in perilous days, requiring recognition of low and sinful condition, being afflicted and mourning and confessing the sins that separate from God and have separated God from His people, and fleeing to the word of God and to prayer to seek the Lord earnestly individually in order to find Him. The greatest danger is not feeling the condition and not understanding the low estate and being satisfied to remain as is. In the perils of the last days people must walk before God meekly with deep humility, guarding their own thoughts and being shut in with God in audience, for only such humble ones will be exalted to the elevated position in accordance with the sacred truths professed, where alone Christians can meet responsibilities and let light shine to glorify God.
What Humility Requires
Humbling oneself before the Lord means drawing near to Him in contrition, being afflicted and mourning and weeping over sin, and turning from sin and divided loyalties with sincere sorrow and genuine repentance. It requires cleansing the heart and accepting correction rather than indulging sin, and it is not satisfied by merely admitting wrong while continuing in it. God receives, welcomes, and lifts with favor those who respond in this way.
Humility honestly faces the full extent of wrong, giving up pride and personal dignity, refusing to defend a harsh or hasty course or to delay putting it right, and instead confessing wrong and seeking reconciliation with brother or sister. It makes thorough confession of faults and forsaking of sin, turning from envy, jealousy, suspicion, faultfinding, and other wrongs, and earnestly seeking God in prayer. Such humble confession places the person in God's hands, in right standing before Him, prepared to receive His blessing and grace and to trust Him to lift up.
Humbling includes openly coming forward to seek His blessing and the Holy Spirit's blessing, drawing near with full purpose of heart at the beginning of the meeting in order to confess sins, trust for pardon, and receive blessing. This is not shameful or humiliating, but a proper drawing near to God in humility and contrition in which He draws near in return. Those who do so encourage others to take their stand as witnesses, gain everything and will not be overcome, and are blessed and strengthened and lifted up as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ called to share the divine nature.
Humbling means bringing burdens, trials, difficulties, and perplexities to God rather than carrying them to finite men, making finite man an intercessor between the soul and God, turning from the great Counselor to human advisers, or exchanging One infinite in wisdom for finite man. It flees to His word and prayer, seeks the fullness of His Spirit, surrenders self to His control to be molded and prepared for heaven and for the pure society of angels, and examines the heart for what hinders the Holy Spirit in daily consecration and faith. It lets self be humbled through fasting and prayer, with the heart cleansed from all impurity, sins confessed, penitence and humility maintained as safeguard against temptation and loss of eternal life, and God pleaded with day and night for victory, for Christ the all-sufficient Helper understands weakness and need and is the source of all power.
Humbling requires close self-examination in the light of the Word to do the work that must be done, meeting by faith the conditions of acceptance with God whether feeling is changed or not. It lays pride aside and comes low at the foot of the cross, gives up confidence in self and personal wisdom, seeks the Lord wholeheartedly for deeper knowledge of God and Jesus, and thus abases self and exalts Jesus so He can shape heart and character. It is inward work in which the heart is set right, pride and self-righteousness confessed, and grace sought, facing one's own wrongs rather than trying to appear righteous to others, for God sees motives and purposes. It gladly accepts the Spirit's correction and reforms instead of continuing in a wrong course, stands before Him as an empty vessel to receive rich grace with Christian graces developed and life conformed to His image, and then contrite prayer is answered with self-knowledge and rich gifts through Christ and abundant blessing.
Humbling requires cleansing from every stain of sin with true earnest service of the heart, drawing near with full purpose of heart without which prayers are not accepted, purifying the soul through the Spirit and belief of the truth while preserving the gospel's elevated character and never degrading truth or bringing Christ to shame. It yields self-will, fears the Lord, turns from headstrong passions to act in keeping with God's counsel, gives self wholly to the Lord without exalting self, determines to do His will, and works in harmony with the Holy Spirit, whom God who knows the heart recognizes with mercy. It submits to His authority by obeying His commandments, following Jesus, receiving and practicing given light, and faithfully entrusting work to God, overcoming pride, ambition, selfishness, stubbornness, and self-reliance through Christ's grace unto a peaceful influence that strengthens piety and effectiveness unto final salvation.
Continual humiliation of soul is most acceptable in His sight, bowing low in deep humiliation and contrition, and it lifts to high attainments of holiness, peace, and joy owed to the Saviour and belonging to the truly penitent soul. It searches whether jealousy, evil-surmising, selfishness, self-sufficiency, hardheartedness, worldliness, and love of display and pleasure keep the Saviour away and close the heart against Jesus, then makes simple heartfelt confession and simple prayer of faith spoken and lived, earnest supplications for aid, fresh grace, new supplies of strength, and the efficiency and power of the Holy Spirit. It refuses to gloss over the grievousness of sins, remembering that sin nailed Christ to Calvary, sincerely repents so as to be freely forgiven with words and deeds witnessing to genuine repentance, openly breaks with Satan and sin in a sense of weakness with living faith laying hold on God's strength unto victory, and confesses not only sins pointed out but all sins conscience brings to mind. God hears, reveals sin as it appears in the sight of a holy God, touches the heart by His Spirit, wrestles with natural defects and overcomes them in a miracle more wonderful than physical healing, molds inward character after the divine Pattern upon which the universe looks with joy far greater than on outward display, gives great peace and joy, a tender impressible heart for a stony heart, a heavenward life, holy endeavor, conversion of soul, body, and spirit, and large blessings with the coming of the Holy Spirit.
What Humility Rejects
Humbling in the sight of the Lord rejects all striving for supremacy, the highest place, and firstness, with its selfish ambition, envy, self-sufficiency and strife, for exalting self brings abasement and finds no favor in God's estimate. It means turning from sin and pride to mourn over sin, recognizing dependence on God and receiving His grace to overcome selfish ambition and envy, submitting to God and accepting His correction before attempting to instruct others, with Christ's meek and lowly spirit as the pattern. God humbles unholy, selfish ambition to be first and highest, while He lifts up and honors whoever humbles himself, who is willing to suffer something for Christ and strives for spirituality and right ambition to excel, rewarding each according to works and the spirit and motive within, for He knows every person by name. This will appear at the near judgment when every case stands in its true bearing and every secret thing with its motive is revealed, so striving for supremacy and speaking to disparage associates are attributes of Satan that shut the gate of heaven and leave that class without the holy city. On the great day of atonement, afflicting the soul before God is better than seeking the highest place and causing discord and evil judgment of others.
Human work is self-humiliation while exalting self is God's work alone, so humbling does not labor for the highest place in the estimation of others, nor seek supremacy for opinions in counsel, nor encourage self-esteem and personal pride, nor cherish thoughts of being unappreciated or underestimated. It takes up duties however lowly and performs them with fidelity and courage heartily as to the Lord, standing willingly as God's property in the lot He assigns, trusting His judgment and gratefully accepting the privilege of being co-laborers with Him in any part of His vineyard. It is thankful not to carry the responsibility of estimating own ability or choosing own place and position, exercising God-given talents to be approved unto God, doing every duty with faithfulness and care, giving self unreservedly to God and trusting His love and wisdom to dispose of all interests and affairs. If capable of larger service the Lord knows it and in due time He will lift up, let His smile rest on the faithful in least, and make humble service ruler over many things.
Humility rejects pride, vanity, self-esteem, self-importance, stubbornness, worldliness and confidence in self and human wisdom, for humility rather than boastful self-confidence is fitting in solemn times and the last days and stands against friendship with the world with its folly and levity. If self is exalted the Lord must abase it, while whoever humbles himself at every step Jesus will lift up, and the lifting must be left entirely to Jesus. Humbling means drawing near to God, decreasing self so Christ must increase, putting me and I in their proper place, lifting up Jesus and talking of Jesus, keeping the eye single to the glory of God, obeying all His requirements and keeping eternal realities in view. Safety lies in living with a low view of self and trusting God alone to make great, for those who seem great in their own eyes with perverse hearts may be lightly esteemed by God, and an exalted, self-sufficient spirit leaves a man unable to be used by God unless the heart is humbled and converted lest selfishness remain and destroy the love of Christ. The lifting requires leaving worldliness behind, so disciples must not link up with worldly men or let their lives bear the stamp of worldliness, for a man cost too much to sell himself to the world and cannot afford to make merchandise of himself; humility then lets burdens be borne pleasantly and kindly toward all, lets Christ's easy yoke and light burden be worn gracefully with Jesus bearing the heavy end, gives a divine Helper at every step as laborers together with God, and keeps a person in the world but not of the world, pure in heart, full of human kindness, keeping the way of the Lord to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Humility means humbling oneself before God rather than trying to humble, criticize or command one another, for success comes through complete surrender to God who lifts up those who submit to Him. This humbling requires being still before God, laying aside imaginings, suspicions, criticism, standing aloof and magnifying defects, ceasing to speak evil one of another, and instead making a clear path for fellow workers and laying hold to help and encourage them, rather than making their way unpleasant and proving a hindrance. It includes examining one's own wrongs rather than dwelling on a fellow believer's faults, so that as self dies trouble gives way to love, fellowship and unity. Those who so humble themselves become open to the Holy Spirit and to the ministry of holy angels, and God can use them according to His will with happiness marking their experience, and in church dealings this humility is to be joined with gentleness toward one another.
Humility rejects tearing down brethren to build up self by making them appear worst while setting forth own virtues in contrast to win appreciation, with jealousy and faultfinding, tale-bearing and gossip, evil-surmising, suspicion, criticism and disparaging associates, for such sowing of dissension shows the doer is separated from Christ and is not a branch of the true vine. Proud, self-esteemed, self-important people filled with satanic traits must carefully review life and practice, seek diligently for grace to overcome, be afflicted and mourn and weep, turn laughter into mourning and joy into heaviness, cleanse the false tongue, purify the double mind and stop speaking evil of brethren, and without this thorough transformation of character they cannot be saved. Humbling gives up self-will, the desire to dominate, pride and stubbornness, turning from self-defense and self-vindication to reform and teachability, turning from criticism, removing what keeps Christ from entering the heart and breaking free from Satan's snare. This humility helps church members love one another, turn from evil speech and do good, supporting brotherly love, kindness and courteous speech, and those who seek Christ's meekness and lowliness will be lifted up by God and given rest and peace.
Humility rejects giving men glory, placing unlimited confidence in them, and turning from the great Counselor to human advisers, for frail, erring human beings are to humble themselves before God and God alone is to be exalted. It is better for all to humble hearts before God than to ask what men say, asking what the Lord says instead when misrepresentations and evil conceptions are entertained. Humbling before the Lord means trusting Him through trials and submitting to Him even when events seem unexplainable and lead to examining the heart, for as He works for present and eternal good He will not allow the enemy to triumph. Those in positions of trust must give up domineering and self-sufficient control and the rule of one mind over God's heritage, for otherwise the Lord will humble them under His mighty hand. It forbids one man's mind and judgment becoming the controlling power in God's work and forbids those who have not obtained characters fit to unite with the royal family above from ruling over God's heritage, since humbling before God is the opposite of exalting self to take headship and credit. Christlike meekness means accepting His yoke and helping bear His burdens, and to the humble and contrite God gives His dwelling presence and revival, lifting them up.
Promise of Being Lifted
The lifting is done by the Lord Himself for those who humble themselves before Him, and it brings grace, favor, blessing, strength, fortitude and comfort. Humbling that is lifted belongs with submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing the hands and purifying the heart, and turning from careless joy and pride to sincere sorrow and mourning over sin. The one who is burdened, tempted and discouraged is not to look on the dark side but to look up in belief and trust, fleeing to Jesus as a stronghold, giving no place to Satan, and showing true wisdom by meekness and good, useful actions. Ministers and church members who walk humbly with God receive His favor as His countenance shining clearly upon them, and humility before God lifts from a low estate to enable an effective part in His work. One whose soul is in peril must not stand alone in discouragement but draw near and bow low, and God will raise him up by looking on the fainthearted and discouraged with compassion, tenderness and sympathy, seeing strong impulses, hereditary tendencies striving for mastery, loss of tenderness of heart, blaming of circumstances, and desire to escape his own thoughts. That opening leads out through Christ as Saviour and Redeemer, who gives light, grace, help, strength and rest to the tried and tempted and makes influence upon other minds fragrant.
True exaltation is God's work, not human work; human work is self-humiliation, not laboring for the highest place in the estimation of others, not seeking supremacy for opinions in counsel, not encouraging self-esteem and personal pride, and not cherishing thoughts of being unappreciated or underestimated. It is taking up duties however lowly and performing them with fidelity and courage heartily as to the Lord, standing willingly as God's property in the lot He assigns, trusting His judgment, and gratefully accepting the privilege of being co-laborers with Him in any part of His vineyard. There is thankfulness in not carrying the responsibility of estimating own ability or choosing own place and position, but exercising God-given talents to be approved unto God, doing every duty with faithfulness and care, giving self unreservedly to God and trusting His love and wisdom to dispose of all interests and affairs. If capable of larger service the Lord knows it and in due time He will lift up, let His smile rest on the faithful in least, and make humble service ruler over many things. Those who fear God and love His law in the most solemn time amid the perils of the last days are lifted to the elevated and exalted position in accordance with the sacred truths they profess, where alone Christians can meet their responsibilities and let their light shine so others glorify God, after being afflicted and mourning and confessing the sins that separated God from His people, fleeing to the word of God and to prayer as the first business and individually seeking the Lord earnestly to find Him.
Humbling by laying down the precious bundle of self at the feet of Christ and becoming kind and courteous and tender-hearted and pitiful, taking Christ's character and likeness in its place, unlocks soul-winning power bringing one hundred conversions where now there is one, while clinging to self blocks that work even under profession of conversion. Workers who humble their hearts before God and reject self-exaltation are blessed by God with fresh ideas and revival in their work. All true exaltation grows out of humiliation, for he who is exalted by God must first humble himself, and the more clearly truth is understood and faithfully obeyed the more humble a person becomes in his own estimation and the more exalted in the estimation of the heavenly universe. This is the means of sanctification, worked by the Holy Spirit received by faith breaking stubborn hearts and producing unselfish, Christlike influence, after the pattern developed in the life of Christ, who first reached to the very depths of human woe, weaving Himself into the sympathies of the race by meekness and gentleness, truth and righteousness, and by wonderful sacrifice to save perishing souls, and whom God therefore exalted above every name.
Being lifted brings great privileges and blessings, great light, willingness to be transformed unto godliness, and the full consecration of the heart that humble believers show when they seek God earnestly in prayer, with their unity as convincing evidence of what His word can accomplish. God gives true wisdom to the humble and contrite while withholding it from the worldly-wise, prudent and self-sufficient who do not know the things that make for peace, for becoming a fool in one's own estimation is the way to become truly wise, because God reveals His wisdom to babes and to daily learners in the school of Christ. He lays all human pride in the dust, tenderly regards the meek and lowly and humble, contrite, self-denying follower of Christ, recognizes them, and exalts them with a true exaltation. Men in positions of trust must humble themselves before the Lord when gathered to do His work, and following God's will and way in this humbling makes the break and opens the way for God's Holy Spirit to be imparted, whereas failure to humble as at the General Conference leaves the meeting closed without breakthrough and the work that might have been done undone.
The promise encourages those who have erred, for the Lord lifts up those who humble themselves before Him. A man who has lost his hold on God through unsanctified temper and ruling passions is to humble himself as his part of cooperating with waiting angels by turning from downfall, resisting the devil, drawing nigh to God, cleansing sinful hands and purifying the double mind, and learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ, and the Lord who looks on him with pitying tenderness will lift him up from his downfall. Humbling the heart brings true conversion, repentance before God, and pardon, and God then makes the person a blessing and not a curse, a burden-bearer instead of a burden who no longer grieves Christ or fellow believers, by turning away from wrong sympathizers and recognizing that the danger lies within oneself. One who has done great mischief with unwise, untrue words will be lifted by the hand of God, who is fully able to save, if he lets self die and be crucified, casts out all selfish ambition, takes his place before Christ as a learner, and maintains unreserved surrender through the sanctification and working of the Spirit. When God lifts him He enables him to make restoration as far as lies in his power, to redeem the time, to soothe souls, and to call back and save souls ready to perish whom his ways misled, even though some will not hear. Humility includes admitting mistakes and turning back with the whole heart, and God lifts up by giving a fresh start and seeking harmony through unselfish work and right motives.
God can bring His people low through trials and hardship that prepare them for His purpose, and then display His power by bringing them to security and religious freedom, showing that He does not forsake those who trust Him and will not let the enemy triumph. That lifting calls for greater humility of soul before God. God humbles anyone who seeks unholy, selfish ambition to be first and highest, and He lifts up and honors anyone who humbles himself, who is willing to suffer something for Christ and strives for spirituality and right ambition to excel. The lifting is God rewarding each person as his works and the spirit and motive within have been, for God knows every person by name and what spirit is in him, and this will appear at the near judgment when every case stands in its true bearing and every secret thing with its motive is revealed. Walking in contrition and humility before God is therefore the way to true exaltation for individuals and nations, while pride, self-sufficiency, presumption and transgression lead to humiliation, defeat and ruin, and striving to be a great man by breaking God's commandments brings being pronounced least by heaven, whereas yoking up with Christ in meekness and lowliness, with failure in financial matters serving as a blessing in disguise to bring humbling, brings God's lifting. The verse thus forbids striving for supremacy and speaking to disparage associates, which are attributes of Satan that shut the gate of heaven and leave that class without the holy city, and calls for putting away all sin and walking in the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts and refusing vainglory, provoking and envying, so as to stand approved of God.
Christ Grace and Salvation
God sets Himself against the proud but gives grace to the humble, so humbling oneself before the Lord brings His grace and salvation, a sight of His salvation, and power through Christ as the all-sufficient Helper who understands human weakness and need. Walking humbly with God in this way means letting self be humbled through fasting and prayer, having the heart cleansed from all impurity, confessing sins, and pleading with God day and night for victory. Standing before the Lord to be lifted up means putting self aside, seeking His will above all, listening for His direction and correction, and obeying in a way that pleases and glorifies Him while remaining humble and teachable and learning from Him daily.
Christ's meek and lowly spirit is the pattern for this humility, calling for dependence on God to overcome selfish ambition and envy rather than seeking supremacy over others. All true exaltation grows out of humiliation, for the one God exalts must first humble himself, and the more clearly truth is understood and faithfully obeyed the more humble a person becomes in his own estimation and the more exalted in the estimation of the heavenly universe. This is the means of sanctification, worked by the Holy Spirit received by faith breaking stubborn hearts and producing unselfish, Christlike influence. The pattern was developed in the life of Christ, who first reached to the very depths of human woe, weaving Himself into the sympathies of the race by meekness and gentleness, truth and righteousness, and by wonderful sacrifice to save perishing souls, and whom God therefore exalted above every name as the example for all in His service to follow.
To be lifted up in God's presence a person must first humble himself at the cross, for God brings down those who approach Him relying on their own strength or righteousness but lifts up the contrite and humble. Through Christ the humbled one is reconciled to God and clothed with Christ's righteousness. Under the inspiration of the cross a person falls helpless, putting away cherished inward sins and resentment against others, seeking God with all the heart and holding to the Spirit of God above everything else, and then God exalts him, since success never comes from human smartness or learning and without Christ a person is alone and can do nothing.
Seeing what redemption cost drives this humbling, for a view of the cross drives pride, self-esteem and stubbornness from the soul so that God may lift up. Christ endured a shameful, agonizing death as the penalty of guilt so that sinners may stand guiltless before God, and in humbling Himself to reach them He lifts them to share in the divine nature and be joined to God. Humbling in this light does not mean counting oneself worthless, but having a true sense of personal value as measured by the infinite price paid for redemption. That true estimate leads to valuing every capability and talent as the Lord's precious endowment to be used to His glory, making every gift a treasure of influence for reaching perfection and completeness in Jesus Christ in the strife for immortality and eternal life.
Humbling includes denying self, taking up the cross, and following Christ without complaint as part of submitting to God, drawing near to Him, resisting the devil, and turning from sin. It means drawing near to God at every step, decreasing self so Christ must increase, putting me and I in their proper place, lifting up Jesus and talking of Jesus, keeping the eye single to the glory of God, obeying all His requirements, and keeping eternal realities in view, leaving the lifting up entirely to Jesus. It means resisting self-exaltation and allowing the great I to die so Christ may dwell in the heart by faith, since trying to raise self brings no favor when character is judged. Refusing to surrender self in this way prevents sanctification. This humility lets burdens be borne pleasantly and kindly toward all, lets Christ's easy yoke and light burden be worn gracefully with Jesus bearing the heavy end, gives a divine Helper at every step as laborers together with God, and keeps a person in the world but not of the world, pure in heart, full of human kindness, keeping the way of the Lord to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Without thorough transformation of character there is no salvation, for proud, self-esteemed, self-important people filled with satanic traits must carefully review life and practice, seek diligently for grace to overcome, be afflicted and mourn and weep, turn laughter into mourning and joy into heaviness, cleanse the false tongue, purify the double mind, and stop speaking evil of brethren. The soul must humble itself before God with deepest humility, heart searching, zeal, and true repentance rather than vindication of self, gaining a proper sense of having grieved the Spirit of God and put to open shame the Redeemer who gave His life. Then God lifts up the repentant one, puts heaven's signature again upon His institutions, presides over His work, and cooperates with man for justice, judgment, and restoration, but the lifting comes only with faithful thorough confession that cleanses moral impurity and forsaking of reproved sins so the soul stands acquitted, since unrepented, unconfessed sin is never blotted from God's record. This is a lesson every church member must learn through close self-examination in the light of the Word, and complying with its word meets the conditions for acceptance with God, an acceptance to be believed by faith whether or not feeling is different. Those who remain unconverted and cling to false principles will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and they must turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, repent, seek pardon, and humble themselves before it is too late.
Living Out Humility
Humbling oneself is the first preparation for worship and camp-meeting, done by facing faults honestly, confessing them, turning from envy, jealousy, suspicion and fault-finding, and seeking God earnestly in prayer rather than carrying unresolved wrongs into the gathering. This work means turning from spiritual sleep and self-satisfaction through repentance and heartfelt confession, trusting that God will lift up those who humble themselves before Him. In camp-meetings it requires setting apart time daily for prayer in the family tents, because without this humbling work first the meetings cannot exert the full influence God desires. Drawing near to God through humble confession and humiliation belongs to this preparation of church members.
Ministers and workers must humble themselves before the Lord with sincere repentance, heart conversion, confession of sin, and earnest humble seeking of God as preparation for their work. A humbled and sanctified heart, joined with submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, and turning from sin with sincere sorrow, is necessary before one can safely teach or serve. Success comes not from smartness or learning but from surrender that opens the soul to the Holy Spirit and to the ministry of holy angels, so that God can work with the worker and use him according to His will. This means each humbling his own soul before God, coming to Him in faith in the promises of His word, and walking in the light and power He gives.
The church must humble itself before the Lord and correct its past errors so fully as to meet His mind, recognizing its spiritual need and valuing inward moral character above outward appearance. Otherwise pride leads to rejecting the help God sends and brings judgment. This humbling belongs to the individual work of seeking God and making a thorough work of conversion, joined with educating children and having Christianity in the heart and home, through which the Lord works with His people. It calls those in positions of influence, beginning with those in most responsible positions, to be wholly on His side by putting away the evil of their works, coming nigh to Him, repenting and being converted. Reformation moves through the congregation when each begins without delay in his own house and household, teaching truth at home and showing well-ordered lives and godly conversation with the heart given to the Lord in service and conformity to Christ's will, because ways that disregard His reproofs are not acceptable. Professed believers whose disagreements divide them are to humble themselves before God, who will exalt them in due time.
Exalting self is not human work but God's work, while human work is self-humiliation. This means not laboring for the highest place in the estimation of others, not seeking supremacy for opinions in counsel, not encouraging self-esteem and personal pride, and not cherishing thoughts of being unappreciated or underestimated. It means taking up duties however lowly and performing them with fidelity and courage heartily as to the Lord, standing willingly in the lot He assigns, trusting His judgment, and gratefully accepting the privilege of being co-laborers with Him in any part of His vineyard. One need not carry the responsibility of estimating own ability or choosing own place and position, but exercises God-given talents to be approved unto God, does every duty with faithfulness and care, gives self unreservedly to God, and trusts His love and wisdom to dispose of all interests and affairs. If capable of larger service the Lord knows it and in due time He will lift up, let His smile rest on the faithful in least, and make humble service ruler over many things.
Coming before the Lord with a humble heart is shown by seeking Him and aiming to glorify Him in every act. For physicians it means recognizing the weight of responsibility for the salvation of those they treat and pleading with God for wisdom rather than relying on self, guarding against selfishness, self-sufficiency and self-confidence in words, actions and conduct. When both husband and wife humble themselves before God as part of resisting the devil, misunderstandings and difficulties can be healed without leaving lasting wounds.
If one humbles himself at every step Jesus will lift him up, and if he exalts himself the Lord must abase him. Humbling means drawing near to God, decreasing self so Christ must increase, putting me and I in their proper place, lifting up Jesus and talking of Jesus, keeping the eye single to the glory of God, obeying all His requirements, and keeping eternal realities in view, while leaving the lifting up entirely to Jesus. Then burdens are borne pleasantly and kindly toward all, Christ's easy yoke and light burden are worn gracefully with Jesus bearing the heavy end, a divine Helper attends every step as laborers together with God, and one remains in the world but not of it, pure in heart, full of human kindness, keeping the way of the Lord to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God. Walking humbly before God and seeking Him with contrition of soul causes Him to manifest Himself, putting one in a state to appreciate His mercy and to take advantage of privileges and opportunities He grants through messengers He calls by His own Spirit and power and sends by whomsoever He chooses. The call is not to wait for God to humble the proud but to humble the heart now in preparation to pray and to work together earnestly and courageously for God, for God was waiting for those obstructing the work to humble themselves and otherwise would humble them Himself. As one humbles himself before God and keeps seeking Him until in harmony with heaven, submitting the will to God, the Holy Spirit works to restore him, since the Lord alone can lift him up and he cannot save himself or cleanse away sin.
Humble yourselves before the Lord means to bow low in His sight in true lowliness of heart, and His promise is that He Himself will lift up the humble in due time. This humbling is work each person must do for himself and not ask God to do for him, beginning in his own heart and continuing each day. It requires genuine repentance with affliction and mourning over sin, turning from divided loyalties and cleansing hands and heart in obedience to God. It rejects all striving for supremacy and first place, with its pride, vanity, self-sufficiency and envy, as well as tearing down others to build up self. Those who so humble themselves receive grace and salvation from God, who lifts them to honor, wisdom, strength and the gift of the Holy Spirit, following the pattern of Christ who in meekness reached the depths of woe and was therefore exalted above every name.
Command and Context
The command is to humble oneself in the sight of the Lord, with the promise that He Himself will lift up the one who does so. This humbling means drawing near to God in humility and contrition, mourning and turning from sin and pride, confessing wrongs to others, and refusing strife for the highest place or evil judgment of others. It calls for putting away self-exaltation, recognizing human weakness, denying self, taking up the cross, following Christ without complaint, and trusting His all-sufficient grace, which also encourages those who have erred. On the great day of atonement, afflicting the soul before God is better than causing discord.
Humbling belongs together with submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing the hands and heart, purifying the double-minded heart, and turning careless laughter and joy into affliction, mourning, weeping and heaviness over sin. This is the needed work of turning from sin, seeking God earnestly, confessing sins, trusting Him to pardon, and receiving His blessing, for as people draw near to God He draws near to them and lifts them up. Such humbling forbids lifting up and building up self by tearing down brethren, making them appear worst while setting forth own virtues in contrast to win appreciation, by jealousy and faultfinding, tale-bearing and gossip, and speaking evil one of another, since sowing dissension shows the doer is not a branch of the true vine. A humbled and sanctified heart so cleansed and sorrowful over sin is necessary before a person can safely teach or serve, as illustrated by a humble walk learning this lesson.
The instruction means exactly what it says and must be read and studied word by word as for life and practiced in daily life. The work must first be done in the reader's own heart, comparing words, spirit and actions with the Word of God, before reaching lost souls. Humbling self is a duty each must do for himself and not ask God to do, because for God to answer a prayer to be humbled would be by terrible things in righteousness. The proud heart, filled with self-esteem, self-importance and satanic traits, must carefully review life and practice, seek diligently for grace to overcome, cleanse the false tongue, purify the double mind, and stop speaking evil of brethren, and must do this each day in consecration, self-denial and self-sacrifice rather than wait for God to humble it.
One who is lifted up and exalted must humble himself, otherwise God will humble him. God was waiting for those obstructing the work to humble themselves to prepare to pray and to work together earnestly and courageously, and if they refused He would humble them. God humbles unholy selfish ambition and brings down reliance on own strength, for when one gets lifted up in his own eyes and thinks he can do something the Spirit is withdrawn and he goes on in his own strength until overthrown, and letting self-exaltation come in surely leads souls astray and if not overcome proves their ruin. The present time is for humbling before God, while God's time for exalting the meek and lowly, when He will be their light, honor, glory and great reward, will come later in due time at the right time. One who is right can move the arm of God, but a multitude together who are wrong are weak and can effect nothing.
Humility rather than boastful self-confidence is fitting for believers living in solemn times, in the most solemn time amid the perils of the last days. It stands against friendship with the world, pride, vanity, and its folly, levity, jesting and careless foolishness. Humbling is an urgent first concern and first business, especially in perilous days, requiring recognition of low and sinful condition, being afflicted and mourning and confessing the sins that separate from God and have separated God from His people, and fleeing to the word of God and to prayer to seek the Lord earnestly individually in order to find Him. The greatest danger is not feeling the condition and not understanding the low estate and being satisfied to remain as is. In the perils of the last days people must walk before God meekly with deep humility, guarding their own thoughts and being shut in with God in audience, for only such humble ones will be exalted to the elevated position in accordance with the sacred truths professed, where alone Christians can meet responsibilities and let light shine to glorify God.
What Humility Requires
Humbling oneself before the Lord means drawing near to Him in contrition, being afflicted and mourning and weeping over sin, and turning from sin and divided loyalties with sincere sorrow and genuine repentance. It requires cleansing the heart and accepting correction rather than indulging sin, and it is not satisfied by merely admitting wrong while continuing in it. God receives, welcomes, and lifts with favor those who respond in this way.
Humility honestly faces the full extent of wrong, giving up pride and personal dignity, refusing to defend a harsh or hasty course or to delay putting it right, and instead confessing wrong and seeking reconciliation with brother or sister. It makes thorough confession of faults and forsaking of sin, turning from envy, jealousy, suspicion, faultfinding, and other wrongs, and earnestly seeking God in prayer. Such humble confession places the person in God's hands, in right standing before Him, prepared to receive His blessing and grace and to trust Him to lift up.
Humbling includes openly coming forward to seek His blessing and the Holy Spirit's blessing, drawing near with full purpose of heart at the beginning of the meeting in order to confess sins, trust for pardon, and receive blessing. This is not shameful or humiliating, but a proper drawing near to God in humility and contrition in which He draws near in return. Those who do so encourage others to take their stand as witnesses, gain everything and will not be overcome, and are blessed and strengthened and lifted up as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ called to share the divine nature.
Humbling means bringing burdens, trials, difficulties, and perplexities to God rather than carrying them to finite men, making finite man an intercessor between the soul and God, turning from the great Counselor to human advisers, or exchanging One infinite in wisdom for finite man. It flees to His word and prayer, seeks the fullness of His Spirit, surrenders self to His control to be molded and prepared for heaven and for the pure society of angels, and examines the heart for what hinders the Holy Spirit in daily consecration and faith. It lets self be humbled through fasting and prayer, with the heart cleansed from all impurity, sins confessed, penitence and humility maintained as safeguard against temptation and loss of eternal life, and God pleaded with day and night for victory, for Christ the all-sufficient Helper understands weakness and need and is the source of all power.
Humbling requires close self-examination in the light of the Word to do the work that must be done, meeting by faith the conditions of acceptance with God whether feeling is changed or not. It lays pride aside and comes low at the foot of the cross, gives up confidence in self and personal wisdom, seeks the Lord wholeheartedly for deeper knowledge of God and Jesus, and thus abases self and exalts Jesus so He can shape heart and character. It is inward work in which the heart is set right, pride and self-righteousness confessed, and grace sought, facing one's own wrongs rather than trying to appear righteous to others, for God sees motives and purposes. It gladly accepts the Spirit's correction and reforms instead of continuing in a wrong course, stands before Him as an empty vessel to receive rich grace with Christian graces developed and life conformed to His image, and then contrite prayer is answered with self-knowledge and rich gifts through Christ and abundant blessing.
Humbling requires cleansing from every stain of sin with true earnest service of the heart, drawing near with full purpose of heart without which prayers are not accepted, purifying the soul through the Spirit and belief of the truth while preserving the gospel's elevated character and never degrading truth or bringing Christ to shame. It yields self-will, fears the Lord, turns from headstrong passions to act in keeping with God's counsel, gives self wholly to the Lord without exalting self, determines to do His will, and works in harmony with the Holy Spirit, whom God who knows the heart recognizes with mercy. It submits to His authority by obeying His commandments, following Jesus, receiving and practicing given light, and faithfully entrusting work to God, overcoming pride, ambition, selfishness, stubbornness, and self-reliance through Christ's grace unto a peaceful influence that strengthens piety and effectiveness unto final salvation.
Continual humiliation of soul is most acceptable in His sight, bowing low in deep humiliation and contrition, and it lifts to high attainments of holiness, peace, and joy owed to the Saviour and belonging to the truly penitent soul. It searches whether jealousy, evil-surmising, selfishness, self-sufficiency, hardheartedness, worldliness, and love of display and pleasure keep the Saviour away and close the heart against Jesus, then makes simple heartfelt confession and simple prayer of faith spoken and lived, earnest supplications for aid, fresh grace, new supplies of strength, and the efficiency and power of the Holy Spirit. It refuses to gloss over the grievousness of sins, remembering that sin nailed Christ to Calvary, sincerely repents so as to be freely forgiven with words and deeds witnessing to genuine repentance, openly breaks with Satan and sin in a sense of weakness with living faith laying hold on God's strength unto victory, and confesses not only sins pointed out but all sins conscience brings to mind. God hears, reveals sin as it appears in the sight of a holy God, touches the heart by His Spirit, wrestles with natural defects and overcomes them in a miracle more wonderful than physical healing, molds inward character after the divine Pattern upon which the universe looks with joy far greater than on outward display, gives great peace and joy, a tender impressible heart for a stony heart, a heavenward life, holy endeavor, conversion of soul, body, and spirit, and large blessings with the coming of the Holy Spirit.
What Humility Rejects
Humbling in the sight of the Lord rejects all striving for supremacy, the highest place, and firstness, with its selfish ambition, envy, self-sufficiency and strife, for exalting self brings abasement and finds no favor in God's estimate. It means turning from sin and pride to mourn over sin, recognizing dependence on God and receiving His grace to overcome selfish ambition and envy, submitting to God and accepting His correction before attempting to instruct others, with Christ's meek and lowly spirit as the pattern. God humbles unholy, selfish ambition to be first and highest, while He lifts up and honors whoever humbles himself, who is willing to suffer something for Christ and strives for spirituality and right ambition to excel, rewarding each according to works and the spirit and motive within, for He knows every person by name. This will appear at the near judgment when every case stands in its true bearing and every secret thing with its motive is revealed, so striving for supremacy and speaking to disparage associates are attributes of Satan that shut the gate of heaven and leave that class without the holy city. On the great day of atonement, afflicting the soul before God is better than seeking the highest place and causing discord and evil judgment of others.
Human work is self-humiliation while exalting self is God's work alone, so humbling does not labor for the highest place in the estimation of others, nor seek supremacy for opinions in counsel, nor encourage self-esteem and personal pride, nor cherish thoughts of being unappreciated or underestimated. It takes up duties however lowly and performs them with fidelity and courage heartily as to the Lord, standing willingly as God's property in the lot He assigns, trusting His judgment and gratefully accepting the privilege of being co-laborers with Him in any part of His vineyard. It is thankful not to carry the responsibility of estimating own ability or choosing own place and position, exercising God-given talents to be approved unto God, doing every duty with faithfulness and care, giving self unreservedly to God and trusting His love and wisdom to dispose of all interests and affairs. If capable of larger service the Lord knows it and in due time He will lift up, let His smile rest on the faithful in least, and make humble service ruler over many things.
Humility rejects pride, vanity, self-esteem, self-importance, stubbornness, worldliness and confidence in self and human wisdom, for humility rather than boastful self-confidence is fitting in solemn times and the last days and stands against friendship with the world with its folly and levity. If self is exalted the Lord must abase it, while whoever humbles himself at every step Jesus will lift up, and the lifting must be left entirely to Jesus. Humbling means drawing near to God, decreasing self so Christ must increase, putting me and I in their proper place, lifting up Jesus and talking of Jesus, keeping the eye single to the glory of God, obeying all His requirements and keeping eternal realities in view. Safety lies in living with a low view of self and trusting God alone to make great, for those who seem great in their own eyes with perverse hearts may be lightly esteemed by God, and an exalted, self-sufficient spirit leaves a man unable to be used by God unless the heart is humbled and converted lest selfishness remain and destroy the love of Christ. The lifting requires leaving worldliness behind, so disciples must not link up with worldly men or let their lives bear the stamp of worldliness, for a man cost too much to sell himself to the world and cannot afford to make merchandise of himself; humility then lets burdens be borne pleasantly and kindly toward all, lets Christ's easy yoke and light burden be worn gracefully with Jesus bearing the heavy end, gives a divine Helper at every step as laborers together with God, and keeps a person in the world but not of the world, pure in heart, full of human kindness, keeping the way of the Lord to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Humility means humbling oneself before God rather than trying to humble, criticize or command one another, for success comes through complete surrender to God who lifts up those who submit to Him. This humbling requires being still before God, laying aside imaginings, suspicions, criticism, standing aloof and magnifying defects, ceasing to speak evil one of another, and instead making a clear path for fellow workers and laying hold to help and encourage them, rather than making their way unpleasant and proving a hindrance. It includes examining one's own wrongs rather than dwelling on a fellow believer's faults, so that as self dies trouble gives way to love, fellowship and unity. Those who so humble themselves become open to the Holy Spirit and to the ministry of holy angels, and God can use them according to His will with happiness marking their experience, and in church dealings this humility is to be joined with gentleness toward one another.
Humility rejects tearing down brethren to build up self by making them appear worst while setting forth own virtues in contrast to win appreciation, with jealousy and faultfinding, tale-bearing and gossip, evil-surmising, suspicion, criticism and disparaging associates, for such sowing of dissension shows the doer is separated from Christ and is not a branch of the true vine. Proud, self-esteemed, self-important people filled with satanic traits must carefully review life and practice, seek diligently for grace to overcome, be afflicted and mourn and weep, turn laughter into mourning and joy into heaviness, cleanse the false tongue, purify the double mind and stop speaking evil of brethren, and without this thorough transformation of character they cannot be saved. Humbling gives up self-will, the desire to dominate, pride and stubbornness, turning from self-defense and self-vindication to reform and teachability, turning from criticism, removing what keeps Christ from entering the heart and breaking free from Satan's snare. This humility helps church members love one another, turn from evil speech and do good, supporting brotherly love, kindness and courteous speech, and those who seek Christ's meekness and lowliness will be lifted up by God and given rest and peace.
Humility rejects giving men glory, placing unlimited confidence in them, and turning from the great Counselor to human advisers, for frail, erring human beings are to humble themselves before God and God alone is to be exalted. It is better for all to humble hearts before God than to ask what men say, asking what the Lord says instead when misrepresentations and evil conceptions are entertained. Humbling before the Lord means trusting Him through trials and submitting to Him even when events seem unexplainable and lead to examining the heart, for as He works for present and eternal good He will not allow the enemy to triumph. Those in positions of trust must give up domineering and self-sufficient control and the rule of one mind over God's heritage, for otherwise the Lord will humble them under His mighty hand. It forbids one man's mind and judgment becoming the controlling power in God's work and forbids those who have not obtained characters fit to unite with the royal family above from ruling over God's heritage, since humbling before God is the opposite of exalting self to take headship and credit. Christlike meekness means accepting His yoke and helping bear His burdens, and to the humble and contrite God gives His dwelling presence and revival, lifting them up.
Promise of Being Lifted
The lifting is done by the Lord Himself for those who humble themselves before Him, and it brings grace, favor, blessing, strength, fortitude and comfort. Humbling that is lifted belongs with submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing the hands and purifying the heart, and turning from careless joy and pride to sincere sorrow and mourning over sin. The one who is burdened, tempted and discouraged is not to look on the dark side but to look up in belief and trust, fleeing to Jesus as a stronghold, giving no place to Satan, and showing true wisdom by meekness and good, useful actions. Ministers and church members who walk humbly with God receive His favor as His countenance shining clearly upon them, and humility before God lifts from a low estate to enable an effective part in His work. One whose soul is in peril must not stand alone in discouragement but draw near and bow low, and God will raise him up by looking on the fainthearted and discouraged with compassion, tenderness and sympathy, seeing strong impulses, hereditary tendencies striving for mastery, loss of tenderness of heart, blaming of circumstances, and desire to escape his own thoughts. That opening leads out through Christ as Saviour and Redeemer, who gives light, grace, help, strength and rest to the tried and tempted and makes influence upon other minds fragrant.
True exaltation is God's work, not human work; human work is self-humiliation, not laboring for the highest place in the estimation of others, not seeking supremacy for opinions in counsel, not encouraging self-esteem and personal pride, and not cherishing thoughts of being unappreciated or underestimated. It is taking up duties however lowly and performing them with fidelity and courage heartily as to the Lord, standing willingly as God's property in the lot He assigns, trusting His judgment, and gratefully accepting the privilege of being co-laborers with Him in any part of His vineyard. There is thankfulness in not carrying the responsibility of estimating own ability or choosing own place and position, but exercising God-given talents to be approved unto God, doing every duty with faithfulness and care, giving self unreservedly to God and trusting His love and wisdom to dispose of all interests and affairs. If capable of larger service the Lord knows it and in due time He will lift up, let His smile rest on the faithful in least, and make humble service ruler over many things. Those who fear God and love His law in the most solemn time amid the perils of the last days are lifted to the elevated and exalted position in accordance with the sacred truths they profess, where alone Christians can meet their responsibilities and let their light shine so others glorify God, after being afflicted and mourning and confessing the sins that separated God from His people, fleeing to the word of God and to prayer as the first business and individually seeking the Lord earnestly to find Him.
Humbling by laying down the precious bundle of self at the feet of Christ and becoming kind and courteous and tender-hearted and pitiful, taking Christ's character and likeness in its place, unlocks soul-winning power bringing one hundred conversions where now there is one, while clinging to self blocks that work even under profession of conversion. Workers who humble their hearts before God and reject self-exaltation are blessed by God with fresh ideas and revival in their work. All true exaltation grows out of humiliation, for he who is exalted by God must first humble himself, and the more clearly truth is understood and faithfully obeyed the more humble a person becomes in his own estimation and the more exalted in the estimation of the heavenly universe. This is the means of sanctification, worked by the Holy Spirit received by faith breaking stubborn hearts and producing unselfish, Christlike influence, after the pattern developed in the life of Christ, who first reached to the very depths of human woe, weaving Himself into the sympathies of the race by meekness and gentleness, truth and righteousness, and by wonderful sacrifice to save perishing souls, and whom God therefore exalted above every name.
Being lifted brings great privileges and blessings, great light, willingness to be transformed unto godliness, and the full consecration of the heart that humble believers show when they seek God earnestly in prayer, with their unity as convincing evidence of what His word can accomplish. God gives true wisdom to the humble and contrite while withholding it from the worldly-wise, prudent and self-sufficient who do not know the things that make for peace, for becoming a fool in one's own estimation is the way to become truly wise, because God reveals His wisdom to babes and to daily learners in the school of Christ. He lays all human pride in the dust, tenderly regards the meek and lowly and humble, contrite, self-denying follower of Christ, recognizes them, and exalts them with a true exaltation. Men in positions of trust must humble themselves before the Lord when gathered to do His work, and following God's will and way in this humbling makes the break and opens the way for God's Holy Spirit to be imparted, whereas failure to humble as at the General Conference leaves the meeting closed without breakthrough and the work that might have been done undone.
The promise encourages those who have erred, for the Lord lifts up those who humble themselves before Him. A man who has lost his hold on God through unsanctified temper and ruling passions is to humble himself as his part of cooperating with waiting angels by turning from downfall, resisting the devil, drawing nigh to God, cleansing sinful hands and purifying the double mind, and learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ, and the Lord who looks on him with pitying tenderness will lift him up from his downfall. Humbling the heart brings true conversion, repentance before God, and pardon, and God then makes the person a blessing and not a curse, a burden-bearer instead of a burden who no longer grieves Christ or fellow believers, by turning away from wrong sympathizers and recognizing that the danger lies within oneself. One who has done great mischief with unwise, untrue words will be lifted by the hand of God, who is fully able to save, if he lets self die and be crucified, casts out all selfish ambition, takes his place before Christ as a learner, and maintains unreserved surrender through the sanctification and working of the Spirit. When God lifts him He enables him to make restoration as far as lies in his power, to redeem the time, to soothe souls, and to call back and save souls ready to perish whom his ways misled, even though some will not hear. Humility includes admitting mistakes and turning back with the whole heart, and God lifts up by giving a fresh start and seeking harmony through unselfish work and right motives.
God can bring His people low through trials and hardship that prepare them for His purpose, and then display His power by bringing them to security and religious freedom, showing that He does not forsake those who trust Him and will not let the enemy triumph. That lifting calls for greater humility of soul before God. God humbles anyone who seeks unholy, selfish ambition to be first and highest, and He lifts up and honors anyone who humbles himself, who is willing to suffer something for Christ and strives for spirituality and right ambition to excel. The lifting is God rewarding each person as his works and the spirit and motive within have been, for God knows every person by name and what spirit is in him, and this will appear at the near judgment when every case stands in its true bearing and every secret thing with its motive is revealed. Walking in contrition and humility before God is therefore the way to true exaltation for individuals and nations, while pride, self-sufficiency, presumption and transgression lead to humiliation, defeat and ruin, and striving to be a great man by breaking God's commandments brings being pronounced least by heaven, whereas yoking up with Christ in meekness and lowliness, with failure in financial matters serving as a blessing in disguise to bring humbling, brings God's lifting. The verse thus forbids striving for supremacy and speaking to disparage associates, which are attributes of Satan that shut the gate of heaven and leave that class without the holy city, and calls for putting away all sin and walking in the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts and refusing vainglory, provoking and envying, so as to stand approved of God.
Christ Grace and Salvation
God sets Himself against the proud but gives grace to the humble, so humbling oneself before the Lord brings His grace and salvation, a sight of His salvation, and power through Christ as the all-sufficient Helper who understands human weakness and need. Walking humbly with God in this way means letting self be humbled through fasting and prayer, having the heart cleansed from all impurity, confessing sins, and pleading with God day and night for victory. Standing before the Lord to be lifted up means putting self aside, seeking His will above all, listening for His direction and correction, and obeying in a way that pleases and glorifies Him while remaining humble and teachable and learning from Him daily.
Christ's meek and lowly spirit is the pattern for this humility, calling for dependence on God to overcome selfish ambition and envy rather than seeking supremacy over others. All true exaltation grows out of humiliation, for the one God exalts must first humble himself, and the more clearly truth is understood and faithfully obeyed the more humble a person becomes in his own estimation and the more exalted in the estimation of the heavenly universe. This is the means of sanctification, worked by the Holy Spirit received by faith breaking stubborn hearts and producing unselfish, Christlike influence. The pattern was developed in the life of Christ, who first reached to the very depths of human woe, weaving Himself into the sympathies of the race by meekness and gentleness, truth and righteousness, and by wonderful sacrifice to save perishing souls, and whom God therefore exalted above every name as the example for all in His service to follow.
To be lifted up in God's presence a person must first humble himself at the cross, for God brings down those who approach Him relying on their own strength or righteousness but lifts up the contrite and humble. Through Christ the humbled one is reconciled to God and clothed with Christ's righteousness. Under the inspiration of the cross a person falls helpless, putting away cherished inward sins and resentment against others, seeking God with all the heart and holding to the Spirit of God above everything else, and then God exalts him, since success never comes from human smartness or learning and without Christ a person is alone and can do nothing.
Seeing what redemption cost drives this humbling, for a view of the cross drives pride, self-esteem and stubbornness from the soul so that God may lift up. Christ endured a shameful, agonizing death as the penalty of guilt so that sinners may stand guiltless before God, and in humbling Himself to reach them He lifts them to share in the divine nature and be joined to God. Humbling in this light does not mean counting oneself worthless, but having a true sense of personal value as measured by the infinite price paid for redemption. That true estimate leads to valuing every capability and talent as the Lord's precious endowment to be used to His glory, making every gift a treasure of influence for reaching perfection and completeness in Jesus Christ in the strife for immortality and eternal life.
Humbling includes denying self, taking up the cross, and following Christ without complaint as part of submitting to God, drawing near to Him, resisting the devil, and turning from sin. It means drawing near to God at every step, decreasing self so Christ must increase, putting me and I in their proper place, lifting up Jesus and talking of Jesus, keeping the eye single to the glory of God, obeying all His requirements, and keeping eternal realities in view, leaving the lifting up entirely to Jesus. It means resisting self-exaltation and allowing the great I to die so Christ may dwell in the heart by faith, since trying to raise self brings no favor when character is judged. Refusing to surrender self in this way prevents sanctification. This humility lets burdens be borne pleasantly and kindly toward all, lets Christ's easy yoke and light burden be worn gracefully with Jesus bearing the heavy end, gives a divine Helper at every step as laborers together with God, and keeps a person in the world but not of the world, pure in heart, full of human kindness, keeping the way of the Lord to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Without thorough transformation of character there is no salvation, for proud, self-esteemed, self-important people filled with satanic traits must carefully review life and practice, seek diligently for grace to overcome, be afflicted and mourn and weep, turn laughter into mourning and joy into heaviness, cleanse the false tongue, purify the double mind, and stop speaking evil of brethren. The soul must humble itself before God with deepest humility, heart searching, zeal, and true repentance rather than vindication of self, gaining a proper sense of having grieved the Spirit of God and put to open shame the Redeemer who gave His life. Then God lifts up the repentant one, puts heaven's signature again upon His institutions, presides over His work, and cooperates with man for justice, judgment, and restoration, but the lifting comes only with faithful thorough confession that cleanses moral impurity and forsaking of reproved sins so the soul stands acquitted, since unrepented, unconfessed sin is never blotted from God's record. This is a lesson every church member must learn through close self-examination in the light of the Word, and complying with its word meets the conditions for acceptance with God, an acceptance to be believed by faith whether or not feeling is different. Those who remain unconverted and cling to false principles will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and they must turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, repent, seek pardon, and humble themselves before it is too late.
Living Out Humility
Humbling oneself is the first preparation for worship and camp-meeting, done by facing faults honestly, confessing them, turning from envy, jealousy, suspicion and fault-finding, and seeking God earnestly in prayer rather than carrying unresolved wrongs into the gathering. This work means turning from spiritual sleep and self-satisfaction through repentance and heartfelt confession, trusting that God will lift up those who humble themselves before Him. In camp-meetings it requires setting apart time daily for prayer in the family tents, because without this humbling work first the meetings cannot exert the full influence God desires. Drawing near to God through humble confession and humiliation belongs to this preparation of church members.
Ministers and workers must humble themselves before the Lord with sincere repentance, heart conversion, confession of sin, and earnest humble seeking of God as preparation for their work. A humbled and sanctified heart, joined with submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, and turning from sin with sincere sorrow, is necessary before one can safely teach or serve. Success comes not from smartness or learning but from surrender that opens the soul to the Holy Spirit and to the ministry of holy angels, so that God can work with the worker and use him according to His will. This means each humbling his own soul before God, coming to Him in faith in the promises of His word, and walking in the light and power He gives.
The church must humble itself before the Lord and correct its past errors so fully as to meet His mind, recognizing its spiritual need and valuing inward moral character above outward appearance. Otherwise pride leads to rejecting the help God sends and brings judgment. This humbling belongs to the individual work of seeking God and making a thorough work of conversion, joined with educating children and having Christianity in the heart and home, through which the Lord works with His people. It calls those in positions of influence, beginning with those in most responsible positions, to be wholly on His side by putting away the evil of their works, coming nigh to Him, repenting and being converted. Reformation moves through the congregation when each begins without delay in his own house and household, teaching truth at home and showing well-ordered lives and godly conversation with the heart given to the Lord in service and conformity to Christ's will, because ways that disregard His reproofs are not acceptable. Professed believers whose disagreements divide them are to humble themselves before God, who will exalt them in due time.
Exalting self is not human work but God's work, while human work is self-humiliation. This means not laboring for the highest place in the estimation of others, not seeking supremacy for opinions in counsel, not encouraging self-esteem and personal pride, and not cherishing thoughts of being unappreciated or underestimated. It means taking up duties however lowly and performing them with fidelity and courage heartily as to the Lord, standing willingly in the lot He assigns, trusting His judgment, and gratefully accepting the privilege of being co-laborers with Him in any part of His vineyard. One need not carry the responsibility of estimating own ability or choosing own place and position, but exercises God-given talents to be approved unto God, does every duty with faithfulness and care, gives self unreservedly to God, and trusts His love and wisdom to dispose of all interests and affairs. If capable of larger service the Lord knows it and in due time He will lift up, let His smile rest on the faithful in least, and make humble service ruler over many things.
Coming before the Lord with a humble heart is shown by seeking Him and aiming to glorify Him in every act. For physicians it means recognizing the weight of responsibility for the salvation of those they treat and pleading with God for wisdom rather than relying on self, guarding against selfishness, self-sufficiency and self-confidence in words, actions and conduct. When both husband and wife humble themselves before God as part of resisting the devil, misunderstandings and difficulties can be healed without leaving lasting wounds.
If one humbles himself at every step Jesus will lift him up, and if he exalts himself the Lord must abase him. Humbling means drawing near to God, decreasing self so Christ must increase, putting me and I in their proper place, lifting up Jesus and talking of Jesus, keeping the eye single to the glory of God, obeying all His requirements, and keeping eternal realities in view, while leaving the lifting up entirely to Jesus. Then burdens are borne pleasantly and kindly toward all, Christ's easy yoke and light burden are worn gracefully with Jesus bearing the heavy end, a divine Helper attends every step as laborers together with God, and one remains in the world but not of it, pure in heart, full of human kindness, keeping the way of the Lord to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God. Walking humbly before God and seeking Him with contrition of soul causes Him to manifest Himself, putting one in a state to appreciate His mercy and to take advantage of privileges and opportunities He grants through messengers He calls by His own Spirit and power and sends by whomsoever He chooses. The call is not to wait for God to humble the proud but to humble the heart now in preparation to pray and to work together earnestly and courageously for God, for God was waiting for those obstructing the work to humble themselves and otherwise would humble them Himself. As one humbles himself before God and keeps seeking Him until in harmony with heaven, submitting the will to God, the Holy Spirit works to restore him, since the Lord alone can lift him up and he cannot save himself or cleanse away sin.