Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
Proverbs 18:12 (NIV)
but humility comes before honor.
God’s arrangement for humans sets us free from self-exaltation; we do not need to pursue it. As a society declines, citizens embrace more and more self-promotion. In American culture, it has become more and more common for people to promote themselves in many boastful ways. Athletes, musicians, social media influencers, politicians, self-help authors and many others exalt themselves and their self-fulfillment without any consideration for God or anyone who does not agree with them. Even some popular ministers expand their ministry by telling their people everything they want to hear about God making them successful and prosperous.
But this verse, and many others, make it clear that God values humility more than arrogance. God is one who lifts us up, ” Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10, NIV). God will give us honor. Would you rather receive honor from the world or from God? Who can give you the greatest honor? Will we lack anything if God honors us?
Some promotion is fine in certain contexts. If you start a business, you need to promote the advantages of your business and expertise. Ministries for the needy need to promote awareness of their ministry. Jesus promoted himself as the messiah, the king of God’s kingdom.
But, we are free from the promotion of our selves, of our goodness and self-sufficiency. We do not need to lower ourselves to such behavior because God has us in his hands. We recognize who we are before God, and maintain a humble heart. God will glorify us and honor us in the next age of his kingdom. Even now we shine as lights of his goodness, which is a higher honor than anything the world can give us. He will give us places of honor in this life according to his will; sometimes he vindicates us, and sometimes he lets us suffer, but all is for his glory and accrues to our glory one day in the next age.
Is there any part of your life where you have been anxious about getting the recognition or advancement you think you should have? Are you able to trust that God will honor you in the ways he sees fit if you remain humble?
