We have heard it all: regrow hair, look younger, increase brain function, loose weight without exercising or changing your diet, become irresistible to women, learn the secrets of making money online in your sleep with no effort and no upfront costs.
I can hear Ron Popeil saying, “But wait! There’s more!”
Yes, we have heard it all. Most of these promises are nothing more than modern snake oil salesmen pitching the latest miracle cure. The only miracle is that people fall for these shenanigans again and again.
But what if I told you the Bible contains a secret so powerful that once discovered you are blessed beyond measure and filled with joy and peace, God takes notice of you and hears you when you call, your relationships are transformed, you are esteemed to the point of being one of the greatest in the Kingdom of God, you have more than abundant grace, and you lead a life of true riches and honor.
Would you be interested?
What if I told you every hero in the Bible possessed this secret? Men like Abraham, Moses, King David, Paul, and Jesus himself.
Interested now?
What if I told you everyone can have this secret? It is not limited to a select few. It is available to everyone.
What is this Bible secret to Kingdom greatness and true influence? Humility. That’s right, humility.
During Lent St. Ephrem the Syrian has been my spiritual director. He wrote a prayer for the Lenten season that has guided millions of believers over the centuries.
It goes like this,
O Lord and Master of My Life!
Take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness
Lust for power, and idle talk.
Give rather the spirit of chastity, humility,
Patience and love to Your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King!
Grant me to see my own error
And not to judge my brother.
For You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
This week I am focusing on “humility.”
You may want to check out my previous postings on this prayer as well:
The Apostle Peter tells us to “clothe ourselves with humility towards one another” (1 Peter 5:5).
“Be clothed with” is the translation of a word that speaks of tying or tucking up the long outer garments around the waste. The word in its noun form referred to a slave’s apron. The exhortation is to put on humility as a working virtue that ties together all other Christian virtues. The other virtues such as generosity, kindness, justice, and long suffering are acceptable and praiseworthy when saturated in humility, but when seen in a prideful person they are almost intolerable.
Humility is to be our garment. We are to clothe ourselves with it.
The danger lies in becoming like Uriah Heep, the fictional character in Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, who wore humility as a mask to hide his true intentions and inglorious ambitions.
Humility is a translation of a Greek word that means, “lowly.” For example, it was used in one ancient document where it speaks of the Nile River in its low stage in the words, “it runs low.” The word means, “not rising far from the ground.”
The English word humility comes to us through the Latin word, humilitas, a noun related to the adjective, humilis, which means “humble,” but also, “grounded,” “from the earth,” and “low.” They have their root in the word, humus, meaning earth.
This is fascinating because the word humus refers to the naturally occurring layer of compost or mulch found on the surface of the soil.
This humus maintains healthy levels of soil life. It increases fertility by increasing the soils ability to store nutrients and moisture. This increases the soils capacity to withstand drought conditions. Humus also buffers excessive acid or alkaline. It helps prevent toxic substances from entering the wider ecosystem. Even the dark color of humus (usually black or dark brown) helps to warm up the cold soils in the springtime.
The soil is clothed with humus. In the same way, I am to clothe myself with humility towards others. Otherwise, my soul will become unhealthy, acidic, and unfruitful.
While the world-system teaches me to clamor for the top, the Kingdom system is teaching me to clamor for the bottom.
While there may not be much room at the top, there is plenty of room in the servant’s quarters.
The greatest among you shall be the servant of all. The way up is down in this upside-down Kingdom.
So I pray God gives me a spirit of humility, so that when I am slighted, neglected, rejected, or ignored, I “put on humility as a garment.”
When I want the credit I think I deserve, yet thanks and appreciation is not expressed, may I “put on humility as a garment.”
When I am not treated as I think I deserve, may I “put on humility as a garment.”
This garment of humility will keep the soil of my soul from being acidic. It will help me retain moisture and nutrients in times of draught. Humility keeps me healthy.
Humility is the Bible secret to outrageous success.
O Lord and Master of My Life, give me a spirit of humility.
To be continued….
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
