The Golden Word – HUMILITY!
- manojiype831
- Mar 16
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Introduction
Let’s look into the book of Ruth for our reflection this morning:
The setting was during the time when Israel was ruled by Judges and it was a period of disobedience, idolatry and a dark time in Isarel’s history when people lived to please themselves, not God. (Read Judges 17:6)
In the midst of such a time, the story of Ruth unfolds.
Refer to:
Ruth 1:1-6, 16-17.
Ruth 2:11-12,
Ruth 3:1-6,
Ruth 4:9-10, 13
Based on what we just read:
Who seems to be the hero of this story? – BOAZ.
Who seems to be the planner in this story? – NAOMI.
The Holy Spirit shone these things and then asked me – Then why is the book called – RUTH !??
It comes from a law in the Kingdom of God – that those who are humble, they will be lifted up. Matthew 23: 12. That is a protocol / an eternal rule that cannot be over-ridden. The recognition in the eyes of God is theirs. Let’s read Psalm 147:6 & Psalm 113:7 which shows this.
Humility is irresistible to God! The whole of heaven is attracted to that aspect – it is probably one of the most celebrated trait/ characteristic in heaven for a human. It has a very high value and hence whoever possess it – is richly rewarded by the Lord.
It is set like that!
What is Humility?
According to the Oxford dictionary, plain English – Humility is defined as the quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance.
In the Bible it is shown as:
Someone who has a high/severe dependence on God and avoiding self-importance.
Someone who values the importance of others and acknowledges them rather than having a self-focus.
What is Not Humility? (Demolishing perceived cultural understandings of Humility)
Talking softly and having barely audible voice is NOT a sign of humility – (There are documentaries that have recorded profiles of serial killers and one common thing was most of them had a very soft and passive way of speaking! Almost gentlemanly! Osama Bin Laden is quite an example!)
Having hunched shoulders and not looking at people in the eye is NOT a sign of humility – It just shows someone who is not open and maybe not comfortable being around!
Being in agreement with anything and anyone around and having no clarity of right and wrong and having no real view/opinion is NOT a sign of humility. That might actually come in the bracket of ‘being foolish’ as per the book of Proverbs in the Bible and someone who lacks direction in life.
Deliberately playing yourself down by speaking low of yourself or even ill of yourself (especially in public spaces like office / church/ friends settings etc) to attract attention and recognition from others is NOT a sign of Humility. It’s called being fake and quite the opposite of being humble. The self is so craving for attention and value that we can do and say anything to get it from others around. It’s a self-exalting behaviour.
(Ofc there are people who speak low of themselves down without any intention of gaining attention from others – it’s just their raw self-belief and personality – they are not being fake – they just need lots of encouragement and clarity in their real identity in Christ.)
So how do we differentiate - What is True Humility?
True Humility is a heart attitude. It has nothing to do with the external personality! There are people who have a robust, very vocal and super-extrovertish personalities but are very humble. Eg Jesus Himself! (Philippians 2) There are also people who are soft spoken, quiet and polite who also have a beautiful quietness about them who are humble! Eg Mary, the mother of Jesus. (Luke 1:46-55) This is her personal song to the Lord which shows us her heart.
True humility seeks to bring honour to God and looks out for the interest of others. In every action we think about God’s reputation and seek to do what is right by His standards. We get insight from Philippians 2:3-4. We place so much value on a human being because we are so aware of God’s love and heart for them – that we cannot be dismissive about anyone! Even if we don’t like someone/agree with their thoughts – our heart attitudes is still one of ‘consideration’ never dismissive of the person themselves.
True Humility does not have a ‘self-lens’. (What about me? What am I getting? How much am I working?) These questions just won’t dictate our life. We leave everything to our Creator – He knows how to sustain the ones He has created. Read Isaiah 49:4 gives us the right perspective. When we read Ruth 1: 11-14 (Let’s read it) – There was nothing Ruth was gaining. It was clear that this road leads to no future at all. What would a young woman in those times do? (And yet Ruth clung to Naomi, coz she couldn’t let her go alone. Ruth’s mind was not filled with – what about me/ what will happen to me? It was for another - what about Naomi? How will she manage?) Ruth didn’t have a self-seeking / transactional mind. It was a self-less heart she had.
True Humility has only ONE audience – God! Sometimes even when we work for the Lord, in ministry or even in our home/families – we might think – I am doing so much, others are not doing anything. It is again a lens that is looking at the self! The Lord does not appreciate such a heart. All the work we do with such a heart condition is quite in vain because it receives no accolades from the Lord. It’s almost like we are in competition with those around us or trying to prove a point to those around; so who is our audience? Those that we are thinking about when we are doing something! Who should be our only audience? - God! Whether we find ourselves alone or with a room full of people – we work to the Lord! Whatever we do is to the Lord. We want the ultimate credit from Him! It should be pleasing in His eyes! Matthew 18:1-4
True Humility lives from the Cross! There are times when we are dealt wrongly by someone. Maybe someone has been terribly unkind or mean, maybe they have deliberately caused us harm and then we are like – what about us Lord? We seek justice / a self-avenging. The truly humble ones would leave it to the Lord – because they know there is always an account settlement. The Lord takes up their cases very personally! Read Acts 9:4-5. Saul was actually persecuting the people of God. But when Jesus addresses it - He says – why do you persecute ME? Touching you means touching Jesus! Whatever is done to us – is actually not to us, but to the Lord they did! Leave it to the Lord – He fights our cases; He is the redeemer and the justice-giver! We won’t get entangled in a game of vengeance or being the victim- we leave it at His courts and walk away! It calls for a laying down of ‘self’ again – even our rights! It is painful sometimes, upsetting and feels heavy – but what helps is Colossians 2: 14 & 3: 13.
Matthew 23:12 is a law in the Kingdom.
Closing Thoughts
Prophetic Relevance and perspective – Why is the Lord talking about this now?
As the Church is given the big picture view of what is to come – through Isaiah 54, Isaiah 60 and 61 and several others – we realize that it is a great time of glory and turn-arounds! The Church is in her decade of Destiny! Like we read in Isaiah 61 – it’s beauty from ashes. This is for our perspective and understanding.
However, what is the ACTION?
The golden word is – Humility!
As in the book of Ruth - It is not to the heroes, not to the planners/managers but to the humble that this season belongs! It is the Humble who will be the light in the darkness, who will arise and shine as in Isaiah 60. It is the Humble who will sing and see the extension of her tents as in Isaiah 54. It is the humble who will inherit the double portion and the blessing of divine reversal as shown in Isaiah 61!
And truly, isn’t it just the most perfect ending to this story? It had to be humility!
Where did the story begin? Not in the garden of Eden – but in heaven when PRIDE entered Lucifer! He sought to exalt himself! He wanted recognition and honour and that caused his downfall! A careful read of Ezekiel 28:17 where the ref is of the King of Tyre but Ezekiel also seems to be talking about a being who influenced the King of Tyre who was once a cherub and lived in unearthly glorious dwellings! It’s amazing to see how everything got twisted from that point.
Which is why PRIDE is so repulsive to heaven – it reeks of the other side! It originates from Lucifer and completely destroys and corrupts a person. It distorts their view of God, of their own selves and those around! The reason why God hates/detests pride is because He knows what it can do to His children!
Hence the Church, who is the agent of Redemption, is in the last days, almost at the end of the story – it had to be Humility which is the trump card – the grand ending, the antidote! God is making a statement through His Bride!
Humility is the golden word for the last days Church!
