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Why is it valuable? How can you tell if you have it?

      “I am humble and proud of it!” You’ve probably heard someone say that in jest at one time or another. The statement’s humor is based on the conflict between the words humble and proud. Most people understand that humility is the opposite of pride, but they might have difficulty defining any further exactly what humility is.

      Just what is humility? Whatever it is, we need it to please Yahweh! Humility is one of the three great qualities Yahweh looks for in those who worship Him: “O man, He has declared to you what is good. And what does YAHWEH require of you, but to do justice, and to love grace, and to walk humbly with your Elohim?” (Mic 6:8).

      Yahweh is supreme. He owns everything. All wealth and power and glory belong to Him. He alone has life to give. He possesses perfect righteousness, perfect character. No other creature even approaches His magnificence.

      And yet who is it this great Being wants to dwell with? “For so says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, and His name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, even with the contrite and humble of spirit; to make live the spirit of the humble and to make live the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa 57:15). Throughout the Bible Elohim puts much emphasis on humility.

An attitude

Humility is a state of mind, a way of thinking and looking at things. The apostle Paul referred to “put on bowels of… humility” as a positive quality (Col 3:12).

A person who is humble realizes his true worth. He doesn’t think he is better than he really is.

This flies directly in the face of modern psychology, which says human beings should build up self-confidence, that we should love, honor and exalt the self and have a “high self- image.”

Yahshua didn’t have self-confidence. He said,

“I am not able to do anything of my desire” (John 5:30)! The apostle Paul lamented, “For I know that it does not fully dominate me, (that is in my flesh) but as far as good is concerned, the choice is easy for me to make, but to do it is difficult for me… O wretched man that I am!” (Rom 7:18, 24).

Of course, it is not right to have an “I’m-no- good-and-I’ll-never-be-any-good” attitude either. Through Yahweh’s Spirit we can become of value. That’s what the miracle of conversion is all about. Without the Holy Spirit we are as worms (Psa 22:6, Isa 41:14). With Yahweh’s Spirit, we can become members of Yahweh’s Family.

A humble person recognizes where he is on the road to total conversion. A Believer should “not have high thoughts beyond what is right to think. But set your mind to be right-minded…” (Rom 12:3).

After we yield to Yahweh, any good in us – any holy character we have, all that is of value – comes from our Creator, the Giver of every good gift.

Having a humble attitude requires a deep understanding that without Yahweh we can do nothing (John 15:5), but that through Him we can do all things (Phil 4:13).

Obedience to Yahweh’s laws

In every decision we make, we either do Yahweh’s will or we do our own carnal will. There is a constant conflict between the two opposing forces, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are opposed to one another; so you are not able to do as you desire” (Gal 5:17).

Whenever we do our will, we exalt the self, because Yahweh tells us to do the opposite of whatever our carnal wills dictate. However, when we exalt Yahweh and His will, we abase the self and its will. Picture a seesaw. Your carnal will is on one end and Yahweh’s will is on the other. Because they are opposite, when one is exalted, the other is abased.

Exalt Yahweh and His ways in your life by obeying His laws and fulfilling His will. In so doing, your self – which is contrary to Elohim- will be humbled.

Putting others first

“in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having gone before one another in honor” (Rom 12:10).

Picture the seesaw once again. You are on one end; anyone else is on the other. Exalt that other person, and at the same time you abase your own selfish vanity. This is humility in action.

“Doing nothing according to strife or self- glory, but in humility, let each regard his neighbor as better than himself; let no one be mindful only of his own things, but let each one also be mindful of the things of his neighbor” (Phil 2:3-4).

You might say humility is giving instead of getting. It is serving others. That is the mind of Messiah.

One example of humility Yahshua gave was washing the feet of His disciples. We repeat the ceremony once a year. Why? Because brethren need the dirt washed off their feet once a year? No, their feet have already been washed and within hours of the Passover service.

We need to take to heart Peter’s admonishment: “Likewise, younger ones be subject to older ones; and all being subject to one another. Put on humility, because YAHWEH sets Himself “Against proud ones, but He gives grace to the humble.” (1st Pet 5:5)

Occasional fasting

The Bible refers to fasting as afflicting or humbling the soul (Psa 35:13, Lev 23:27, Isa 58:3-5).

Though members of Yahweh’s Congregation, we are still physical beings. When our physical flesh is satisfied and content (exalted!) over a long period, our spiritual condition tends toward complacency and even begins to go downhill. So Elohim has given us a physical tool to stir up and revive our spiritual development. The tool is fasting – temporarily abstaining from food.

Recall once again the seesaw: On one end is the body’s desire for food and satisfaction, on the other end is the need for spiritual rejuvenation through a special session of intense prayer and study.

Fasting temporarily puts down and humbles the physical so as to give an occasion to exalt and fulfill the spiritual and get it back on the track.

Being receptive to instruction

Humility is the opposite of the “I-know-it-all” attitude. “Pride comes, then shame comes, but with the humble is wisdom” (Prov 11:2). The humble are teachable.

That’s one reason “For consider your own calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to worldly things, nor many mighty, not many of noble birth. But YAHWEH chose the foolish ones of the world that the wise might be put to shame, and YAHWEH chose the weak ones of the world so that He might put to shame the strong things.”

“And He hath chosen those of humble families in the world, and the lowly, and them who are insignificant, in order to belittle them who think themselves important” (1st Cor 1:26-28).

Paul later wrote: “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks to be wise among you in this age, let him become foolish, that he may become wise” (1st Cor 3:18).

Yahweh wants us to be receptive to His teachings. We must put down our own opinions, notions and persuasions and pray like David: “Make me know Your ways, O YAHWEH; teach me Your paths; lead me in Your truth and teach me; for You are the Elohim of my Y’shua*; on You I wait all the daylong” (Psa 25:5).

Yahweh says, “…But I will look toward this one, to the humbled one, and to the contrite of spirit, even trembling at My Word” (Isa 66:2). That is teachable humility!

Modest conduct

Humility is knowing when to be inconspicuous. Yahshua said we should give alms, pray and fast anonymously – in secret. Yahweh is watching. That’s all that counts. “… And your Father seeing in secret, Himself, will repay you in the open…” (Mat 6:1-18).

We should not be exalting the self by always trying to out dress everyone else, showing off, boasting, exaggerating, always telling the funniest joke, talking the loudest, getting ahead of the Joneses, always winning every game just for vanity’s sake. “Let us not be of vain glory, that ridicules one another, and envies one another” (Gal 5:26). Humility must be developed.

But it will be rewarded. “Then be humbled under the mighty hand of YAHWEH, that He may exalt you in due time” (1st Pet 5:6).

A humble person – one whose self is abased- is the raw material the Almighty Creator can take and form into a Member of His Family. “The reward of humility is the fear of YAHWEH, riches, and honor, and life” (Prov 22:4).