Description
The Power of Humility: Insights from Proverbs 18:12 and the Story of Esther
In this episode, we explore Proverbs 18:12 … (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Proverbs 18 verse 12 says, Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honour.
Things often seem upside down in the kingdom of God, don’t they? That in order to achieve honour or standing or status, we must be humble. Jesus Christ humbled himself before he was raised up as the Saviour of the world.
This proverb reminds me of the story of Esther. I don’t know if you know this book in the Bible, but there’s this character Haman who plots the downfall of the Jews.
And towards the end of the book, Haman is expecting that he’s going to receive honour from the king. He’s proud of that. He’s proud of what he’s accomplished in advising the king. And then instead, Mordecai, the Jew, is honoured, and Haman is sent to his death. His pride, his elevation of himself above all others, led to his destruction.
And so there’s a deep warning for us in this verse, isn’t there? We see this in much of scripture, that pride is something that God cannot stomach in us. We have no basis for self pride. We have no basis for elevating ourselves over everyone and certainly over God. He is above all. We do need to know our place.
But when we humble ourselves before God, He then raises us up. He raises us up to a position that we don’t deserve, a position of being His adopted children.
So let us take the advice of this Proverb and constantly humble ourselves before God, awaiting the honour that he will surely give us.
Please help us, God, because humility does not come easily to us. Our self, our flesh raises its head all the time. But you appreciate, you approve of a contrite spirit, and we wish to be humble before you, reveling in the honour that you bestow on us in your grace, which we don’t deserve. Thank you, Father. Amen.
