Year of the Bible: Part Four of Twelve Sýnishorn

Humble Pie, Anyone?

What is self-righteousness? The Bible has several examples that support one explanation. It means a standard or measure of righteousness determined by oneself, hence "self-righteousness." In other words, we begin to define righteousness and adjust the definition to fit what we can achieve.

Moses told the Israelites that they would not possess the land because of their self-righteousness or supposed integrity for the Lord. He explained how God was preparing the Promised Land for His purposes and that they would inherit it because He wanted them to do so.

Being humble certainly does not feel great, but before you push your slice of humble pie away, let's look at what it means to be humble.

Jesus shared an example of self-righteousness with a group of self-righteous people. There were two men in the temple. One of them went on and on about his religious achievements and compared himself to the man next to him. The second man knew his brokenness and confessed his sins while beating his chest. You can probably guess who was self-righteous and who was not. The second man was innately aware of God's willingness to extend mercy, and he asked for it! The first man was unaware of his need for God's mercy and instead was left with his self-righteousness.

Jesus continued by saying, "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18: 14 NASB)

Moses didn't leave the Israelites in a state of shame, and he encouraged them, telling them that God is faithful to keep His promises. In the same way, be inspired and know that Jesus will exalt you in your humility.

There are so many benefits of being humble. Humility reduces the pressure to maintain a given reputation, and it makes it easier to accept failures without destroying your self-esteem. Most importantly, humility allows you to submit and surrender to God's authority and purpose for your lives.

With practice, humility can become your new normal.

Question: What do you think God thinks about you when you walk in humility?

Prayer Focus: We all need God's mercy, so pray this ancient prayer out loud today, as often as you think of it. "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Amen!"