Along a highway in a small Oklahoma town a little laundry had a large sign: "This is the Biggest Laundry of Its Size in the World"

What an example of American absurdity and lack of humility in a land known for its boasting. How can small be biggest? How can the illiterate be the most intelligent? How can moral chaos be the best?

Are we hesitant to admit our inferiority? Or are we thinking so lowly of ourselves that we become emotional cripples? Why are we at one extreme or the other - neither of which is true humility?

Some are proud of every accomplishment and quick to flaunt it. Some people resent receiving criticism, but seem to have no hesitation in giving criticism. Sad to say, this happens much in the church and it should not. There are folks who express confidence of doing a better job than the President or the Governor, preach a better sermon than their pastor, manage their neighbor's children more effectively than their parent, or compete better at an athletic contest. Some are not only proud, but proud of their pride.

Yet, true humility is not to be weak, lacking in respect, or almost apologizing for being alive. Because God has created us and sent His Son to redeem us, we have value and worth conferred on us by God.

Albert Day wrote:
"True greatness is always humble! Our lack of humility is not due to our excess of ability, but to our woeful failure to appraise ourselves in the light of the Master's Life! That is what true humility is - not the denial of whatever ability we may possess, but such a vision of the divine excellence and power that ours seems but dust and ashes in comparison."

In the Middle Ages, Father Bacon described humility: "This same humility is to be exercised … in the quiet of Jesus … such a beholding will in thy mind a far more pure, spiritual, solid, and perfect humility… Thou wilt see and feel thyself… in the very substance of thy soul to be mere nothing."

Mother Teresa spoke of humility as "the principal aid to prayer."

These words bring to my memory Luke's account of a proud Pharisee and a humble sinner. Read Luke 18:10-14. 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." With this in mind consider 4 P's of humility: Problem, Power, Paradox, and Practice.

I. Problem

The problem is not with humility, but with that which tries to keep us from being humble/ This is the same problem we encountered as we looked at the discipline of obedience several weeks ago. The EGO, the tyrannical ego is seeking to master over us. Because of our sin nature the ego easily masters most human beings. The EGO makes us self centered, not God Centered. We focused on this selfishness problem when we looked at the Discipline of Charity.

So here is the problem, if our minds are occupied with the desires and demands of the ego, how can we truly turn to God when we kneel in prayer?

The prophet Jeremiah wrote this answer from the Lord: (29:13) "You will seek Me and find when you search for Me with all your heart." Can we honestly say that we are searching for God with all our heart? Could it be that we are just seeking God to make self - centered dreams come true?

Meister Eckhart said: If a man goes seeking God, and with God, something else, he will not find God. But if one seeks ONLY God - and really so - he will never find only God, but along with God Himself, he will find all that God is capable of … Aware of it or not, people have always wanted to have great experiences; they want in on this or they want that good things; and this is nothing but self-will."

Considine said, "It is self - importance, not our misery that gets in God's way."

II. Power

Albert Day wrote:
"Here is where humility is so effective. Self importance vanishes and self - will disappears in the presence of humility. The humble person has dismissed self from the center of the picture. Personal welfare or even survival no longer seems to be the paramount issue. The person is perfectly willing to leave life's planning in the hands of God.
Yet only through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ can we attain such humility - a humility so powerful that it conquers the proud, assertive, self sufficient, self centered ego."

Recall Jesus' instructions in the parable of the guests (Luke 14:7-11). Do NOT take the place of honor and have to be moved to a less honorable seat. Instead, go to the last place - so that he who has invited you can move you to a more honorable place. "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

This teaching of Jesus was reinforced by the example Paul describes in Philippians 2. "He took upon Himself the form of a servant…and humbled Himself." The Father exalted Him! Jesus said, "He that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:12. Peter put it this way: "Humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." (I Peter 5:6)

The power, the victory, the fruitful Christian life is for those who with God's help practice the discipline of humility. Remember, empty truck always make the most noise, but the ears of barely that bear the richest grain always hang the lowest..

III. Paradox

To some, even professing Christians, humility may be thought of as a negative approach to life. Herein is a paradox. Such godly, Christ like humility is in reality, the fulfillment of life. Isn't that what Jesus was talking about when He said, "He that loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39)

Albert Day has more food for thought in these words:
"One really begins to live only when one loses oneself in God's purpose. … The humble person discovers that such abandonment loses nothing that is worth keeping but finds God with a quick vividness that is breathtaking and thrilling. When praying there are no more self-devised plans and purposes intruding themselves between self and God. Nor is the mind busied with dreams and demands rising out of a subtle egoism that assumes it knows best. The humble person wants God as the thirsty seeks water or the hungry seeks bread. God's will is desired as a sick person wants the will of the trusted physician. With the whole heart eagerly committing itself to God, such a person enters into a vivid awareness of the God who is always at hand, waiting to deal with human willingness, and the God who is available when human willingness has been cleansed and made ready by disciplines and grace. Humility is not weakness, but strength, for it received the strength of God. Humility is not folly, but wisdom, for it is open to the ever available wisdom of God. Humility is not nothingness, but fullness, for the fullness of God pours into the vacuum created by the demolition of human pride and self sufficiency."

IV. Practice

While this message has its foundation in Bible teaching, and I have shared my thoughts and the thoughts of others, you have heard me credit Dr. Albert Edward Day with some quotations. In this final point of putting humility into practice I am borrowing from him again and adding my own commentary. Take notice of his introduction.

"Below are some suggestions that will help you practice the discipline of humility. But do not assume that you alone, by practicing them can achieve your own deliverance from your egocentric self. Such an assumption would only foster pride. That would be an anomaly, wouldn't it - to become proud of your progress in humility! So use these disciplines faithfully, but also in dependence on God.

1. Begin the day looking at Jesus. (It is humbling to look at His perfections.)
2. Recall your own sins and imperfections. (Realistically say to yourself, "This is the kind of person I am.")
3. Forget the imperfections of others. (Otherwise we are like the Pharisee, fostering pride. Often we have a tendency to do this so we say that we don't think we are so bad after all.)
4. Beware of seeking honor from others. (Try to keep out of the limelight.)
5. Consider others better than yourself. (This may hurt, hurt your pride.)
6. Learn the joy of giving and serving anonymously. (Do it in the name of Christ.)
7. Avoid the trap of self exaltation.
8. Each day find something to do that is beneath your station. (Recall the example of Jesus washing feet. Do a job at home or church that others do not want to do.)
9. Never make an effort to be seen in the company of important people.
10. Learn to recognize virtue in everyone.
11. Cultivate a cheerful heart. (This is far superior to complaining.)
12. Exercise humility of mind. (You do not need to give advice to everyone.)
13. Limit your speech making.
14. Cheerfully accept humiliations. (This one is not easy for me.)
15. Finally, take time for prayer.

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