|
|
Humility and Brokennessby Steve Cox,
|
|
|
If someone were to approach you in church and ask “How are you doing?” what would you answer? Most of us would say “I’m doing fine, thanks, and how are you?” But if we were to go a bit deeper with each other, most of us would admit that in some respects we are usually struggling in one or more areas of our lives. I think we can answer with the superficial “I’m fine” for a number of reasons. First of all, the person asking the question might be just trying to be polite and doesn’t want to go deep. Second, most of us don’t want to dump our problems on everyone we know. But, I also wonder how much our response has to do with not wanting to admit to our Christian brothers and sisters that our lives are not fine. After all, we’re Christians and we kind of think everything should be going fine. If not, we suspect there is something wrong with us. In fact, it may be just the opposite is true. God may be working in our lives to deepen our humility, and even bring us to a point of brokenness, rather than let us stay in our “fine” way of living. Some Christians make the point that all sin is rooted in pride, or self-centeredness. I think the argument could be made this is especially true for those of us raised in the United States. Our culture encourages us to be independent and self reliant. My father considered himself a “self-made man,” working his way through college and moving up the career ladder through hard work and self determination. He encouraged me to think and live by these same standards. But if we are proud Americans, strong and self reliant, we are probably depending on ourselves and not on God. We subtly begin to think we deserve the “good life,” that our possessions, our relationships, our reputation, and our health are ours to keep. However, the Scriptures make it clear that only through humility and brokenness can we be in right relationship with God. King Solomon tells us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34). James quotes this proverb to remind us not to get too attached to our material possessions (James 4:4-6). Peter quotes this same proverb to remind us to treat others properly (1 Peter 5:5-7). King Hezekiah also quotes this proverb as he learns to trust God in the midst of a serious illness. One of the more significant growing points in my life relates to the biblical truths of humility and brokenness. I tend to fool myself into thinking God has brought me through enough hard times and failures in life that I have learned a fair amount of humility. (Even this type of thinking is kind of prideful isn’t it?) But I am still learning that what I think of as humility is still far from the true humility God wants to develop in each of us. Paul makes a distinction between true humility (Titus 3:2) and false humility (Colossians 2:18). The Bible seems to indicate that true humility is related to brokenness, or becoming brokenhearted. There appears to be a consistent pattern throughout Scripture that the Lord brings us to the end of ourselves, where we have nothing left other than our dependence on Him. It is only when we hand over everything we have and everything we are to Him, realizing we are powerless, and we are nothing without Him, that He can begin to work powerfully in and through our lives. Isaiah quotes the Lord: “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite (broken) in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). David tells us: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalms 34:18 and 51:17). Over the past two years I have been facing accusers at my work, with
the real possibility that I could lose my job, my reputation, and all
my possessions. It has been a significant time of learning my own limitations,
how much of life is out of my control, and how much only the Lord sustains
me, and only His will matters in life. In the past few days, I have
learned that Lord may be gracious enough to vindicate me and in a sense
restore all that was at risk of being lost. I am truly humbled by his
goodness in this situation and hope that whatever the outcome my response
will glorify Him. Although the Lord has taught me much these past two
years, I know I have more to learn, probably through more periods of
brokenness in life. My prayer is that we all see His hand at work in
our lives and together reach out to Him and glorify Him with “humble
and contrite” spirits.
|
