The Benefits of Humility

by Heath Rogers

“Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Pet. 5:5).

As a rule, the world around us doesn’t value humility. Those who are self-assertive and uncompromising get all the awards and attention while the meek are, at best, given only token recognition. God has always promised to bless those who humble themselves before Him and others. The Bible speaks of some benefits and blessings promised to such individuals.

Saves us from shame. In Luke 14:7-11, Jesus spoke a parable to those who positioned themselves to enjoy the most honorable seats at a feast. If they placed themselves in the most important seat, and the master makes them move, the only seats left will be the lowest, “and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place” (v. 9). Instead, they should seat themselves in the lowest place and allow the master to move them to a higher position in the presence of all the guests. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 11). Even if they aren’t moved any higher, at least they won’t be put to shame before the other guests.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Sometimes the “destruction” caused by our pride is a shameful “fall” from grace before others. This is prevented when we practice humility.

Promotes unity. Members of a local church are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). Before speaking of the doctrinal foundation for this unity, Paul first presented the attitudes that make this unity a sustained reality. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (vs. 1-2).

In another epistle, Paul instructed the Colossians to put on these characteristics like a garment. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Col. 3:12-13, emphasis mine - HR). Dressed in these virtues, we are now ready to work together in harmony in the local church.

Justifies us before the Lord. In another parable, Jesus spoke of two men who went to the temple to pray (Luke 18:9-14). One was a self-righteous Pharisee who praised himself before God by elevating himself above others. The other was a humble tax collector, who “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” (v. 13). The divine pronouncement was “this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbles, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 14).

Please note, humility alone will not justify us before God. The Pharisee was doing the right things according to God’s law. He avoided sinful conduct, fasted, and gave tithes (vs. 11-12). However, his pride made him an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 16:5). We make mistakes as we strive to serve the Lord faithfully. It is our humility that allows us to come before God and seek His forgiveness.

Meditate on these things:

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.

The Benefits of Humility

by Heath Rogers

“Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Pet. 5:5).

As a rule, the world around us doesn’t value humility. Those who are self-assertive and uncompromising get all the awards and attention while the meek are, at best, given only token recognition. God has always promised to bless those who humble themselves before Him and others. The Bible speaks of some benefits and blessings promised to such individuals.

Saves us from shame. In Luke 14:7-11, Jesus spoke a parable to those who positioned themselves to enjoy the most honorable seats at a feast. If they placed themselves in the most important seat, and the master makes them move, the only seats left will be the lowest, “and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place” (v. 9). Instead, they should seat themselves in the lowest place and allow the master to move them to a higher position in the presence of all the guests. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 11). Even if they aren’t moved any higher, at least they won’t be put to shame before the other guests.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Sometimes the “destruction” caused by our pride is a shameful “fall” from grace before others. This is prevented when we practice humility.

Promotes unity. Members of a local church are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). Before speaking of the doctrinal foundation for this unity, Paul first presented the attitudes that make this unity a sustained reality. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (vs. 1-2).

In another epistle, Paul instructed the Colossians to put on these characteristics like a garment. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Col. 3:12-13, emphasis mine - HR). Dressed in these virtues, we are now ready to work together in harmony in the local church.

Justifies us before the Lord. In another parable, Jesus spoke of two men who went to the temple to pray (Luke 18:9-14). One was a self-righteous Pharisee who praised himself before God by elevating himself above others. The other was a humble tax collector, who “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” (v. 13). The divine pronouncement was “this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbles, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 14).

Please note, humility alone will not justify us before God. The Pharisee was doing the right things according to God’s law. He avoided sinful conduct, fasted, and gave tithes (vs. 11-12). However, his pride made him an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 16:5). We make mistakes as we strive to serve the Lord faithfully. It is our humility that allows us to come before God and seek His forgiveness.

Meditate on these things:

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.

The Cities of Refuge - A Type of the Lord’s Church

by Heath Rogers

In Numbers 35:11-34, the Lord gave instructions regarding the cities of refuge. These cities played an important role in maintaining justice in Israel.

The ancient Near East had a custom - when a person was killed, their nearest relative had the responsibility to slay the murderer. This relative was called the “avenger of blood.” The cities of refuge were set apart so that if anyone accidentally killed a person (without hatred, enmity, or premeditation – Num. 35:20-21) they could flee to one of these cities and be protected from the avenger of blood.

Upon reaching the city, they were to be received by the elders and their case was to be heard. If the trial showed they had taken a life by accident, they would be given asylum in the city of refuge. They had to remain in the city until the death of the high priest. If they left the city before the death of the high priest, they were subject to death at the hands of the avenger of blood.

There were six cities of refuge in Israel: three in the land of Canaan and three beyond the Jordan. In Deuteronomy 4:41-43, Moses set up three of these cities on the east side of the Jordan River: Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan. In Joshua 20, the other three cities were set up on the west side of the Jordan River: Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron (also known as Kirjath Arba). These cities were spread equally throughout the land and were easily accessible by roads (Deut. 19:2-3). These cities were six of the 48 cities given to the Levites (Joshau 21), so the inhabitants of these cities of refuge would have been knowledgeable of the law and merciful towards their countrymen.

We don’t read much of the cities of refuge in the remainder of the Bible, but it is apparent they were a type of the Lord’s church. The Hebrew writer tells Christians that “we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:18). In coming to Christ for salvation we have fled for refuge. The moment we are saved, we are added by the Lord to the church (Acts 2:47).

Consider the analogies between the cities of refuge and the church.

· The cities of refuge were for those who were in danger of the avenger of blood. Sinners are in danger of death (Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23).

· The roads to the cities of refuge were plain and accessible. The “road” to salvation in Christ and His church is equally plain and accessible to “whosoever is willing.”

· One had to abide within the city of refuge to remain safe from the avenger of blood. One has to abide in Christ and His church to remain in a saved condition (John 15:1-6; Eph. 5:23; Rev. 2:10).

· The manslayer had to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Jesus is our High Priest forever because He can’t die (Heb. 7:23-24, 28). We must always remain in His church to escape the penalty for our sins.

· The cities of refuge were made up of Levites who knew the law and were to be merciful to the people. The Lord’s church is made up of priests (all Christians are priests – 1 Pet. 2:5, 9) who are to know God’s word and show mercy to one another.

Meditate on these things:

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.