It may sound strange, but I have a feeling for the past year that God wants me to work on being more humble. I keep getting hints with bible study, books, threads. I prayed about it and it feels like something I'm supposed to improve.
The problem is this confuses me because I always thought I was a humble person already. I don't have a big ego and I have improved on stopping myself from being slightly snobbish toward certain people (an issue I had years ago that I've overcome). I work on trying not to feel more important than I am, to God and others. I have worked on selfishness a bit, although that's different than humbleness (I'm naturally introverted!) I don't have pride that I can see.
It feels like I'm missing something though.
Anyone else ever feel this way? Any tips?
Very good question. I think it's something we all deal with at various times.
Here's a brief NT background on things. There are 3 families of greek words related to this. Here's an oversimplified summary. 1. There are the words (ταπεινος and ταπεινοω) which are related to the idea of being low or the action of being made low. From the BDAG Lexicon, the adjective means a. being of low social status, b. being servile in manner, or c. being unpretentious. The verb basically means to be put into that state. 2. The second family of words are based on the combination of the first family and a word meaning to think of (ταπεινοφρονεω). These basically mean to think in such a manner. 3. The third family of words (πραϋς and πραϋτης) have the meaning (as per BDAG) of "not being overly impressed by a sense of one's self-importance". The NT scriptures where these are used are:
1. adj: Mt 11:29, Lk 1:52, Ro 12:16, 2Co 7:6, 10:1, Jas 1:9, 4:6, 1Pe 5:5,
verb: Mt 18:4, 23:12, Lk 3:5, 14:11, 18:14, 2Co 11:7, 12:21, Php 2:8,4:12, Jas 4:10, 1Pe 5:6.
2. Act 20:19, Eph 4:2, Php 2:3, Col 2:18,2:23,3:12, 1Pe 5:5, 1 Pe 3:18, Lk 1:48, Act 8:33, Php 3:21, Jas 1:10
3. Mt 5:5,11:29,21:5, 1 Pe3:4, 1Co 4:21, 2Co 10:1, Gal 5:23,6:1, Eph 4:2, Col 3:12, 2Ti 2:25, Tit3:2, Jas 1:21, 3:13, 1 Pe 3:16
Our English word humble seems to encompass a wide range of meanings. I'm not really sure how to nail down a single meaning for "humble". It seems to range from actually being in a low state, to being put into that state, to considering one self to be in that state even though we are not.
I think there've been some good posts here that have covered many good points.
Something I've been pondering about is if part of humbleness is perhaps not so much about thinking about ourselves as scum and dirt (I'm exaggerating for effect) and acting that way but rather to have a clear picture of how God sees us as He wants us to be and then acting in accord with that. There is both a negative side (we are sinners, etc.) and a positive side (we are each unique children of God meant to reflect His glory in some way unique to each of us). I wonder if humbleness requires having a clear understanding of who we are right now and who we are meant to become, our strengths and weaknesses, what part is sinner and what part is saint, what part is mature and what part is immature. I always liked a line in one of the Narnia books. I didn't bother to go search for it to get it exact. It was something like "you are a son of Adam, that is enough to shame the greatest king on earth and raise the head of the poorest beggar." I wonder if one part of humbleness is accurately knowing our place before God, both in owning up to the sinful side, as well as thankfully and joyfully accepting the positive side He's given us.
I present this as food for thought rather than a firm opinion.
