WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MARCH 13, 2025
TOPIC: HUMBLE YOURSELF
BY T. O. BANSO
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10 New King James Version).
The Spirit of Christ is that of humility so His followers must be humble. Paul says in Philippians 2:3b, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves” (New Living Translation). Note the phrase “Be humble.” Humble people don’t consider themselves better than others; the reverse is the case. That’s why they serve others and don’t seek to be served.
In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul shows Jesus Christ as a perfect example of humility, saying, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (verses 5-8 New Living Translation).
Jesus is fully God and fully man, but He didn’t claim His rights as God on earth. He did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for His benefit. He humbled Himself as a slave and died the death of a criminal on the cross for the salvation of man. As Philippians 2:5 says, you must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had – humility. Humble yourself as Jesus did. He was unselfish.
Paul continues in Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (New Living Translation). Because Jesus was humble and died on the cross, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name,
Learn to be humble like Jesus. According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, humility is “A freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have and are comes from God.” Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary further explains: “Biblical humility is also a recognition that by ourselves we are inadequate, without dignity and worthless. Yet, because we are created in God’s image and because believers are in Christ, we have infinite worth and dignity.”
Being humble does not mean that others are better than you. It doesn’t mean that you should think less of yourself but think of yourself less. You may be wiser than others, more educated and exposed than them, or richer than them, etc., but that does not mean that you should be arrogant, look down on them, or expect that they must serve you. Don’t forget that Philippians 2:3b says, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves” (New Living Translation).
Don’t be proud because of who you are or what you have. Proverbs 11:2 says, “Pride leads only to shame; it is wise to be humble” (New Century Version). Also, pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Pride destroys marriage, friendship, business, ministry, etc. Some people are so proud that they feel too big to apologize or say, “Sorry.” “Before being ruined, a person’s heart is proud; before being honored, a person must be humble” (Proverbs 18:12 Complete Jewish Bible). Pride leads to humiliation; humility leads to honour. Proverbs 15:33b says, “If you want to be honored, you must be humble” (New Century Version).
Humble yourself before God and in your relationship with people. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (Today’s English Version). The New King James Version says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Similarly, 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes” (Contemporary English Version). The New King James Version renders it thus: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”
Humble yourself. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5b; James 4:6b New King James Version). If God resists the proud, who will assist him? Therefore, don’t be proud before God. Also, Proverbs 3:34b says God gives grace to the humble. “Respect the Lord and be humble. Then you will have wealth, honor, and true life” (Proverbs 22:4 Easy-to-Read Version).
Humble yourself before God and obey Him. In the book of Zephaniah, the Prophet Zephaniah, after warning the sinners in Jerusalem and Judah to gather themselves probably in repentance to avert the LORD’s fierce anger upon them, turned to the few righteous remaining, “Come to the Lord, all you who are not proud, who obey his laws. Do what is right. Learn to be humble. Maybe you will escape on the day the Lord shows his anger” (Zephaniah 2:3 New Century Version).
Humble yourself. Humility pays. Don’t be proud as you relate to others. Jesus says whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14b). The Contemporary English Version renders it thus, “If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored” (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14b). Humble yourself; don’t allow yourself to be humbled.
Proverbs 16:19 says, “It is better to be humble and stay poor than to be one of the arrogant and get a share of their loot” (Good News Translation). The New Century Version says, “It is better to be humble and be with those who suffer than to share stolen property with the proud.”
Be humble when you help others. Helping should not be used to dehumanize others or make them look less than human. Jesus says, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:2-4 New International Version). Don’t call people’s attention to yourself when you give. This is what pride does. It always uses every opportunity to show superiority.
Humble yourself also when you correct others. Don’t show a holier-than-thou attitude or try to prove that you are better than they are. Paul told Timothy, “Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25 Contemporary English Version). When you correct others humbly, they are more likely to appreciate it and take your correction.
You also should be humble and take corrections. Proud people are not teachable. Humble people are. They respond to corrections. “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction” (Proverbs 12:1 New Living Translation). Don’t be stupid; be wise. Correction makes the humble better.
Humble yourself before God and in your communication and relationships with them, whether they are your subordinates, colleagues, or superiors, or whether they are younger than you are, you are age mates, or they are older. No matter your status, humble yourself. “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!” (Job 36:5a New Living Translation). Honour others more than you do yourself (Romans 12:10b).
Don’t be proud. Pride makes you look like Lucifer; humility makes you look like Christ. Emulate Christ. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15 New King James Christ). Learn from Lucifer how pride made him fall. Be humble.
Also, learn from Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, whose pride made him lose his throne and he was driven away from people and lived with the wild animals, eating grass like cattle for seven seasons until he repented, and God restored him to the throne (Daniel 4:28-37). Nebuchadnezzar said in verse 37, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (New International Version). Note the last sentence: And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Humble yourself; don’t let God humble you or people humiliate you.
Don’t be full of yourself. Whoever is full of himself is a fool! Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but think soberly (Romans 12:3).
Humble yourself as Christ did and was exalted, not like those who were proud, and were humbled.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I repent of any way I have been proud before You and in my relationship with others. Holy Spirit, deliver me from pride; help me to be humble. Holy Spirit, I receive Your help to humble myself before the Lord, so He will lift me. I shall emulate Christ’s humility, not Lucifer’s pride.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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