What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'humble'? I would have to say that, until about 72 hours ago, it meant putting myself lower than others in a bad way. Being a sacrifice was something I had done for years. Allowing myself to be walked on, laughed at, made fun off, cheated on, used, abused, the list goes on and on. But then I realized something. The Humble Bumble.
For my whole life I've tried to not be proud. I thought that was being humble. And that is part of where I bumbled. Realizing that I've missed blessings because of this has been a hard pill to swallow. I've let gifts God has given me go unused because of, what I thought was, humbleness. I was wrong.
Pride can be defined in a couple of ways. Falsely arrogant or genuinely self confident. Somehow we tend to get that confused. Being falsely arrogant is definitely a bad thing. Proverbs 6:18 says "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." That can pretty much be translated to say that pride leads to destruction, and the bigger the ego the harder the fall. If you are conceited or self-important, something will happen to make you look foolish.
But what does that have to do with the Humble Bumble? It's that interpretation of pride. Pride, in this case, is arrogance. It's not self confidence. And that's where I've messed up all these years. I've tried to not be prideful, to be humble, and it's gotten in a real mess all because I didn't get it. I just didn't understand. But I'm trying!
"You save the humble people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down." 2 Samuel 22:28 David tells us that God saves the humble but he humbles the haughty. Okay. I think this may be part of why I got confused. The word 'humble' is definitely used to mean different things. So a more thorough study needs to be made.
Other than people living in humbled circumstances, I think I just always thought of humble as the opposite of proud. That, if someone was proud, they would be punished, humbled. That, if I was already humble, I wouldn't be proud. Again, the Humble Bumble.
Yes we are to be humble, reverent, to God. Yes, we are to be respectful to others, and even, according to Philippians 2:3 we are to 'do nothing through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves'. Hmmm.......And again I get confused. But what does this really mean? It means there is a way to do things that is right. Not using others. Not hurting or sneaking around or cheating or abusing.
There's something else that's the right thing to do. While helping others, we aren't to lose ourselves. God has a plan for each of us. Unfortunately I got really good at losing myself under the guise of being humble. But I'm no one's savior. I'm not qualified. I'm called to be Christlike, but I'm not Christ. Also, while we are to put others ahead of us, they are to do the same for us. And if that's not what's happening, something is wrong. Very wrong.
So, the Humble Bumble. Being humble never means losing yourself. King David wrote in Psalm 139 that God knew us while we were being formed. All of us. That gives us all an equal start from what I can tell. It doesn't matter what our lot in life is. Big house, little house. Fancy car or old jalopy. God has an amazing plan for each of us. And letting Him in on ever facet of our lives instead of thinking we are being humble by allowing ourselves to be walked on, used and abused, well, you know which is His choice for us.
Okay. Holding my head up. Not being walked on. Not being used or abused. Saying what needs to be said. Owning what's mine to own but not taking responsibility for what is not my fault. Still being a giver when it's in my power to do so. Obeying my Lord. Using the gifts He has given me. This IS being humble. And I'm learning. Every day. Still learning. Every day.
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