I don't know if you've ever heard the phrase, "She thinks she's high and mighty." but I think I've just had a revelation about what it could mean.
You see, Bible study on Wednesday night was about Power Over Pride and developing humility. Ooooo. There's a word that a lot of people are afraid of (but shouldn't be). Some people think humility means that you let people walk over you or lack self-confidence, but in fact, it means almost the complete opposite: you are so comfortable with yourself and your inner power that you CHOOSE to submit to God and others before yourself. That's right, I said choose because being humble is a choice, not a feeling.
The bible says:
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Col. 3:12)
God opposes the proud but favors the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (1 Peter 5:5-6)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Phil. 2:3-4)
Just like you choose to put on clothes everyday, you must choose to put on a humble spirit. This means that:
- You acknowledge God's power over your power and let Him know that you can do nothing without Him. He runs the show and you do what He says. All day. Every day.
- You think of and put others before yourself. Don't try to be "high and mighty" (there's that phrase again…we'll get to it in minute) and look down on others. If you have or know something they don't, work with them to get them where you are. Love on them, don't dismiss or treat them badly. And most of all, SERVE PEOPLE!
This "high and mighty" point is especially a problem with Christians who, because they have matured in certain areas, feel like they can condemn others who still struggle with certain things, and I think this is where "high and mighty" comes from. Some people try to be high and mighty like God–but no one ever can! They may judge others, look down on them, or treat them badly because they don't act or do what they think they should, but this is the job of God only, and when we try to take over God's role, we're walking in pride and telling God we don't want to choose humility.
I know that I have been guilty of being too judgmental and thinking negatively about people's wrongdoings rather than loving on them, and this message really convicted me. I want to do better about seeing people as God sees them and loving them through their faults. This doesn't mean accepting it but being willing to work with it in love.
And what about the serving part? Well, that's what our life should be about. The rest of Philippians 2 talks about having the attitude of Christ that doesn't seek to be the at the top but wants to be at the bottom. You want to serve others and choose to be humble so that others can be elevated.
I really want to live this out in my everyday life and especially on the race–remembering to think of everyone as better than me, see them through God's eyes, and be willing to serve others before myself, knowing that nothing is too low for me because I'd rather be lowly and humble than high and mighty!
