Overview of Biblical Humility

By - Pastor Daniel C. Inghram, National Capital Bible Church

Adapted from: Job 42:1-6, Lesson 51, January 13, 2021

At the end of the Book of Job in 42:6, we see Job’s submission to God’s plan for his life. All the disasters that had happened to him were part of that plan. While Satan was the instigator behind the disasters, God had approved his actions knowing that they would be a tremendous test for Job, a mature believer. After God’s rebuke in chapters 38-41, Job now sees himself as a shameful child of God who must confess his arrogance and repent, change his attitude toward himself, his situation, and God. Job needed to return to humility.

Humility is the quality or characteristic of being humble, free from pride and self-centeredness or preoccupation with self. It has both a favorable or proper orientation sense and a negative or self-abasement sense. While humility has many definitions, ranging from a feeling of insignificance or inferiority to low in rank or importance, none of these definitions relate to the biblical sense of the word.

Biblical humility is an understanding of our own helplessness and an appreciation of what God in His grace has done for us. It is recognition of the authority of God and submitting to His authority. Once we understand that God the Creator is the central figure in His plan for our lives and that we are His creatures, then we will have proper orientation to authority, to life, and to self. Biblical humility is the essence of the Christian spiritual life.

In Numbers chapter 12, we can see a good contrast between proper orientation to authority and self-centeredness. Miriam and Aaron were speaking against Moses. In verse 3, God the Holy Spirit includes a parenthesis to set the context for us: “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men on the face of the earth.” Though Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, he had not been overbearing or prideful in his leadership. God had chosen him to be the leader of the Israelites; it was not a position that he desired or sought to retain. Moses had his faults, but arrogance or self-centeredness was not one of them. God’s training had so molded his life that Moses’ spiritual life, his proper orientation to God’s authority, came first. Miriam and Aaron were focused on themselves.

For more examples of biblical humility see: Moses (Deut 34:10-12); Job (Job 42:1-6); Jesus (Matt 11:29; Phil 2:5-8); Paul (2 Cor 12:10; Phil 3:12-14).

Since the Bible is the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16b), proper orientation to the authority of the Lord demands daily study of His Word and obedience to it. Only then, with the filling of God the Holy Spirit, can we be humble. Neglect or rejection of the Word of God is indicative of self-centeredness or self-focus and is rebellion towards God (Rom 1:18-25).

James writes, “Humble yourselves in the sight [presence] of the Lord and He will exalt you” (Jas 4:10). This is a mandate to be oriented to divine authority and so occupied with the Lord that you depend or rely on Him, not self, in every circumstance in life. Relying on self inevitably produces disappointment and frustration. Relying on God in every circumstance of life removes “you” as the central focus of life’s equation and demonstrates proper orientation to life. Biblical humility is a focus on God, not self.

In 1 Peter 5:5-7, Peter directs the believer to be “clothed with humility.” He explains humility to be submissive to others. Peter is specifically speaking to believers about being submissive to other believers. “God resists [opposes] the proud but gives grace to the humble.” When we submit ourselves one to another, we are submitting to God. God did not place us on the earth to strut about and resent others. Our example is Jesus during His earthly ministry. His humility was always evident.

Biblical humility is neither derogatory nor undue self-deprecation. It is not degrading one’s self, or self-effacement, or asceticism. Self-effacement is often based on false humility. All forms of asceticism are related to the most subtle forms of pride and arrogance. Asceticism is a labor of self-promotion disguised as self-denial. Ascetics always want others to know of their sacrifice or pitiful life. Biblical humility is an attitude one has toward self which is reasonable, accurate, and based on a relationship with the Lord. Humility objectively evaluates one’s own life in the light of what the Word of God teaches.

Biblical humility produces objectivity; objectivity is a prerequisite for teachability, and teachability is a prerequisite for spiritual growth. Arrogant people are subjective and non-teachable. Arrogance blinds the believer from recognition of his sin. In the spiritual life, confession is based on humility. The confession of the sin does not take emotional angst, but it does require an acknowledgement of failure in the spiritual life and disobedience of the Word of God. That is why learning the Word of God is critical to spiritual growth and humility. We must know what sin is. “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way” (Ps 25:8–9).

Biblical humility, as an expression of the Word of God in the soul, is an understanding of our own helplessness and an appreciation of what God in His grace has done for us. In Psalm 34:2 and 56:11, the soul glories in the Lord. This is proper orientation to self. We do not boast about ourselves or what we have accomplished. We do not take credit for our achievements. Rather, we give the glory to God. 

Conclusion: To God be the glory that we are alive. To God be the glory for the abilities He has given us. To God be the glory for opportunities to do anything. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your grace and mercy towards us.

This post was written by Pastor Daniel Inghram of National Capital Bible Church. If you have questions about this post or Christianity in general, please contact us today!