Benefits of Humility

       My hubby has always been a hard worker.  From 8 yrs to 19ish he worked in the fields at home and then got a factory job for the next 22 years with low pay, only some benefits and no pension of which to speak.  Now at 62 he’s been in the auto industry 17 years, and though they’ve lost some things in the latest contracts, the benefits are still great, especially for those of us living in Canada- and we would have great financial difficulty without drug benefits since we all have various health issues.

       If you had a choice between two similar companies, one with benefits and one without, which one would you pick?  Usually, the better benefits win out because it is like getting extra pay and it sure makes life less stressful when healthcare costs are covered.  Jobs aren’t the only things to have benefits; choices do as well.  The choice to get married, have children, move to the suburbs, get a better education, etc. all have their own rewards.  Yesterday I wrote about humility, and today I’d like to speak about the benefits of humility.

…But to this one I will look, to the afflicted and contrite spirit, and the one who trembles at My Word.  Is. 66:2

Bless the LORD, My soul, and never forget any of his benefits: Ps. 103:2 ISV

     (gemul- dealing, recompense, benefit)

The Lord regards the humble.  Is. 66:2 (above) (all MKJV)

The Lord hears the humble.

     …He forgets not the cry of the humble.  Ps. 9:12

     Jehovah, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart,

     You will cause Your ear to hear,  Ps. 10:17

The humble will enjoy God’s presence.

     For so says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity; whose name is Holy,

     I dwell in the high and holy place, even with the contrite and humble spirit,

     to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.  Is. 57:15

The humble will be delivered by God.

     …And He shall save the lowly of eyes.  Job 22:29

God will lift up the humble.

     Be humbled before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  Jm. 4:10

God will exalt the humble.

     For whoever exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself

     shall be exalted.  Lk. 14:11 also 18:14

The humble are greatest in Christ’s kingdom.

     Therefore whoever shall humble himself like this little child,

     this one is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven.  Mt. 18:4 also Mt. 20:26-28

The humble shall receive more grace.

     …He gives grace to the lowly.  Pr. 3:34

     …God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.  Jm. 4:6

The humble will be upheld by honour.

     Before shattering, the heart of man is proud, and before honor is humility.  Pr. 18:12

     A man's pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.  Pr. 29:23

Humility is before honour.

     …before honor is humility.  Pr. 15:33

Humility leads to riches, honour and life.

     By humility and the fear of Jehovah are riches and honor and life.  Pr. 22:4

       Those are a lot of benefits we can have if we have humility- true humility.  That doesn’t mean we act humble on the outside but inside are still prideful.  It means we see ourselves as we really are by remembering where we’ve been, where we are, and how we need God’s grace and mercy just to survive (Thurs. post was how practically to stay humble).  We all need to have more humility in our lives.  If we are to live like Jesus (1Jh. 2:6), we must humble ourselves- clothe ourselves with it every day like Jesus who  “…being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Php 2:8)

It is our choice whether or not we live like Jesus.