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  1. Yesterday
  2. On my report cards in grade school were two grades listed apart from the others -- "citizenship" and "effort." I knew that "effort" was a consolation prize for kids who were lousy in the real subjects. Effort was a form of flattery, that is, and flattery a form of lying. A good grade for "effort" was the teacher's way of making me feel good about myself (though most of the time I got lousy grades in "effort" too!) It didn't work. I got "Cs" and "Ds" in reading, math and just about every other subject ... and knew I deserved those grades. The silly grade for "effort" didn't matter to me, and shouldn't have. I had figured it out. Thus, I think the worst thing about flattery is that in the end, it doesn't work. Flattery is always subject to discovery, of being found to be a lie. Flattery, then, puts a finger on the scale. It tilts the truth in a desired direction. One of my personal peeves has to do with parents who constantly tell their kids they're so great, so wonderful, so fast, so smart, so talented, so handsome, so much better than everyone else ... etc. Those kids thrive on flattery. At some point, however, they are forced to kneel on the same starting line with everyone else -- often, their real "ranking" is a hard for them to accept. Years of flattery, of their mum telling them they SHOULD be something which they are not is undone when the truth comes out. This was avoidable. Easily. They were never permitted to learn the truth of where they rank vis-a-vis others. They hadn't been exposed to real competition, only flattery. For this reason, I think open and fair competition is the best antidote to flattery. Telling the truth is the second-best antidote to flattery. We have to realize that the pressure to say "nice things" about each other is actually a pressure to lie. It is not kindness or gentleness or building up someone's "self-esteem." It's just lying. Similarly, speaking the truth is not mean or arrogant, but rather is straightforward and clear-sighted thinking. The truth perhaps shouldn't always be told, but every time we pretend that "X" is better than it is, we create an alternative reality that will eventually be knocked down. Thankfully, most of us have one person in our lives to whom we can tell the truth, a person we can trust, a person who can handle our judgments, right or wrong, a person who wants to see life as it really is, that is, to avoid flattery.
  3. Q42. (John 3:30) In what ways are you observing Christ’s influence increasing in you? How is your seeking of your own way decreasing? What are the biggest obstacles to humility currently before you? What are you doing to humble yourself in these circumstances that challenge you? Terrific self-reflective questions! John 3:30 is the perfect verse, "He must become greater; I must become less.” As I focus more on the character quality of humility, I find myself more focused on patience, forbearance, and rejoicing in others. This study has opened my eyes to just HOW humble our Savior was as He walked on the earth. I'm doing my best to live as Jesus, "But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1John 2:5-6)
  4. Q41. (1 Timothy 6:3-4,17; Colossians 2:18) Why does having an abundance of wealth and knowledge tend to make us feel superior? Why do false doctrines and heresies often come with a feeling of superiority over lesser Christians who believe differently? How can you show humility if you are wealthy? How can the well-educated show humility? Why do we feel superior with wealth and knowledge? Perhaps that false sense of security and false thinking of our own self-importance. False doctrine and heresy often come with feeling of superiority because the people in cults are deceived--whether it be a 'religious' cult or a 'cult' faction of our local culture. If you are wealthy, you can show humility by the way you live--not flaunting your wealth-- and by your generosity. The well-educated can show humility in stating tand living in such a way that shows that they do not know everything!!!!
  5. Q40. (Romans 12:16; James 2:1-9) Why does Christ’s humility require us to associate those considered lowly? Who are the “lowly” in your community? What are you and your congregation actively doing to break down the barriers between these people and yourselves? What message does lack of favoritism send to a world that is intently watching Christians? Christ gave us an example is His walk on the earth. He associated with everyone, including the outcasts. "lowly" in a community are any people that are overlooked. My husband has a huge heart for older singles 35-65+ in our former church that was our ministry group and in Eastern Europe that was a dear ministry to us in two countries. Our congregation welcomes everyone who comes in the door. They have built the church to have a HUGE foyer that all can talk and mingle there even during snow. This talking with and welcoming everyone is taught and encouraged. The message sent to the world is that we love. Romans 12:16a reminds us, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position." James also reminds us, "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."
  6. Q39. (Matthew 5:38-39; Romans 12:19; 13:4) Why are unforgiveness and humility incompatible with each other? Why must we distinguish between personal forgiveness and judicial determination and sentencing? Unforgiveness and humility are incompatible because they are opposing. Humility holds others in high regard; unforgiveness refuses to see another as a person with faults and foibles just as we are. Jesus taught us to love even our enemies. Personal forgiveness can be granted by us at any time we choose; however, sin has consequences. If a person has done wrong, Romans 13:4&5 are still true, "For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience."
  7. Q38. (Matthew 7:1-2; 9:13; Hosea 6:6; 2 Corinthians 10:12) What prevents a judgmental spirit from being compatible with humility? How can we maintain an attitude of mercy towards sinners in our fallen world while still maintaining godly standards within our Christian community? In what way does comparing ourselves with others work against humility? How do backbiting and a critical spirit betray a judgmental spirit? A judgmental spirit equals a person with no compassion. Anyone putting themself into the place of BEING THE JUDGE has no humility or at best very little. Hosea speaks God's Word to us: "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." It is important that we share the gospel--the good news of Jesus--with all. Someone judgmental will refuse to associate with some people - for whatever reason, thus showing no mercy. Comparing ourselves to anyone other than Christ brings no benefit for growth and assumes we are in charge of our growth and character rather than God being in charge working in each unique person, the Spirit helping us to become like Jesus. Backbiting and critical spirit show judgement by demeaning another and not showing love. 1 John 2:9-11, Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. John continues with stronger rhetoric in 1John 3:10, "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister."
  8. The letter to Timothy was to be willing to share what you have. The wealthy should be willing to sacrifice what they have to help other. They are not to put there hope in earthly wealth but should be storing wealth in heaven. The connection between wealth and arrogance is that the rich like to flaunt their good fortune and wants everybody to know that they are rich in earthly goods.
  9. Q37. (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:1-3) How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and his apostles? What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit? How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony? Interesting that Jesus prayed for unity--that His followers and He and His Father would be ONE. (John 17:20-23) Romans 12:16 commands us to live in harmony and it tells us clearly: do not be conceited. Conceit and arrogance are the opposite of humility and the pride behind them creates a huge barrier to unity. With every decision made, there are always people who think differently. One example of tension in our church is in regards to women in leadership. Promoting harmony, I do not voice my opinion loudly; I pray for the pastors and staff, and pray asking God to work.
  10. Last week
  11. Q36. (James 1:19-20; Colossians 3:13) What is the relationship of patience to humility? What in us motivates impatient outbursts? What does it take for God to work in us “long-suffering”? Why is forbearance so vital in a marriage? In the patience arena, this verse always reminds me of who God is: "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) I saw His incredible patience waiting for my Dad to want salvation - which he asked for at age 88. He loves us so very much; how can we be impatient with anyone? Impatient outbursts are motivated by putting ourself and our way first. Thankfully, God works in us through the Holy Spirit to develop forbearance which is so vital to marriage. Any relationship will have its ups and downs, good days and bad. We keep working, keep forgiving, and pressing on to know Jesus better--thankful He gives us His Word and His Spirit.
  12. Perhaps this is overcomplicating things, but doesn't it seem that motives are never pure, that we rarely do something just for ourselves or just for God, but usually set goals in that fuzzy zone between self-centeredness and God-sensitiveness? We can never escape our minds. When we think or plot or make goals, WE are doing it ... hopefully under the inspiration of the Spirit, but it's still our minds and our subsequent dreams that motivate us. Furthermore, most ambitions have consequences that benefit us as well as others. There are very few "pure plays" in the Christian life. The only time I can be certain of having a pure motive is when my ambitions actually harm me, when I give sacrificially in such a way that my own desires are shelved, ambitions tamped down and goals unmet. I wish I could set goals knowing God's perfect future will but God's will unfolds so slowly that I have absolutely NO idea what He wants me to do in the long term. And that's the rub. Ambition always looks to the future. It takes a long-term stance. No one is ambitious for the hour ... ambition says, "This will be accomplished within five years ..." When leaders chart out the future -- the five-years plan, etc. -- they assume that these goals are achievable and that they, themselves have the abiiity and perhaps calling to achieve them. In other words, they assume success will be theirs. When someone says they want to evangelize the world by a certain date, and then that date passes without the world being evangelized, was God at fault or was the person setting godly goals with an ungodly ambition? I don't know. Could God set us up for failure by having us set goals we don't reach, perhaps through no fault of our own? Could His goal be our failure, or, to word it differently, could His goal be to squelch our ambition? I am no longer certain that God rewards obedience with success, ambition with accomplishment.
  13. I think that giving to help the poor is basic because we were brought that way. I know that the reason that I am hesitant to help the poor I see on the streets is because I don’t know if they are really poor and are just trying to get money. I will give them something to eat but I will almost never give them money. There are lot of the people on the streets are drunks.
  14. Q35. (Titus 3:1-2; Colossians 3:23-25). How is appropriate submission related to humility? Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride? When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual? How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile? "...Be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone." Titus 3:2 reminds us how we are to act in regards to everyone. Only a humble person can achieve peaceable, considerate, and gentle to EVERYONE! Thus, submission when appropriate exemplifies the character quality of humility. When we oppose a church leader, it shows we think ourselves above that leader. However, if the person is teaching false information, I believe we have to speak with them privately in hopes they will align themself with the Word of God. Submitting to a harsh person is nearly impossible. Two of my children worked for horrible bosses who would yell and scream and be unreasonable. Both were quiet and respectful, but I let them know they had my permission to quit those jobs. Both of them grew in patience during that experience. Romans 8:28 promises that all things work for the good of those who love Jesus. All things. Submitting by being quiet is easier than submitting your heart to a harsh person. Colossians 3:23 gives us encouragement and hope, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters," As I told my granddaughter last week, we can do hard things, with God's help.
  15. Q34. (1 Peter 3:15; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 3:9) How is humility related to respect for others? To honoring others? How can we minister to someone for whom we have no respect? In what way does insulting speech trample upon humility? How does interrupting a person show disrespect? Humility is an undergirding gentleness that shows kindness and peace in all situations. It brings honor to others in careful response to them, not interrupting them, and truly listening to what they have to say. Insulting speech and interrupting tramples humility and shows disrespect to others in denying their incredible worth before God. Ministering to someone for whom we have no respect can only happen when we are willing, as Jesus in washing feet--becoming a servant--becoming a servant of our Lord and asking the Holy Spirit to help us see the person through His eyes, not our own. 1Peter 3:8 lets us know HOW to act, "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." and 1Corinthians 7:22b-23a reminds that, "Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price..." Since our lives belong to Jesus, we are part of His body whenever we honor another, for we represent Him (2Cor. 5:20).
  16. Faith requires that we be certain that a particular promise of God is true and understood correctly and given to us at that time and place. Without this deep confidence, doubt constantly nags at our mind making it difficult to move forward assertively. A flicker of doubt can ruin a moment of obedience. We must deeply believe that the word of God – the particular words of God for us, a rhema – has been given for a particular situation or circumstance. We must be certain that God has specifically spoken to us with a clear message or command, that God has told us to do or say something. This could be something as large as our life calling or as small as the command given to Paul to not go to a particular city but turn back. Doubt can either cause us to be reckless (plunge ahead in spite of misgivings), or timid (hold back timidly because you’re not sure what God has spoken to you). This may be where humility fits in this lesson -- humility is the correct calibration of faith between prideful recklessness and self-harming timidity. So, yes, faith is absolutely necessary, but it is a faith not just in an abstract God or church, but in a specific promise of God. Once we are convinced that God Himself has told us to respond in some manner, only then is Christian assertiveness/courage possible … perhaps probable. I think the stories of the great men and women of the Bible can be boiled down to obeying a calling/demand/voice/request because they were absolutely confident that that word – logos or rhema – was from God. (I would change the definition of assertiveness to read “the quality of being confident and not frightened to say what you God wants or believes.”)
  17. Jesus’ wisdom will give us eternal life where the worldly wisdom will put us in hell. Jesus’ wisdom wants to help mankind where worldly wisdom wants to destroy mankind. The sense that “all the treasures and wisdom and knowledge” are hidden Him because of Jesus we will be able to give us eternal life. The way we go about becoming “wise” in Jesus is to study the Bible.
  18. Jesus Christ is frequently portrayed as the sacrificial Lamb of God, and the phrase "Worthy is the Lamb" is used in the Bible, particularly in Revelation 5:12, where angels declare that Jesus is deserving of "power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory, and blessing" because of His atonement for humanity's sins.
  19. When I think about patience and humility I think of the ministry of Jesus and the patience he continued to show the disciples even when they argued with each other and had little faith. I also think of how patient God has been with me, despite my decades of rebellion against him. I pray that he will grant me this humility towards others. Forbearance helps to refine and strengthen our patience. We only learn to be patient when things don’t go our way. I could certainly point out every annoyance with my wife or snap back when she’s in the wrong but that isn’t showing love to my spouse, nor is it in the spirit of humility. God has forgiven my offenses and I must be quick to forgive as well.
  20. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride makes God our adversary when we think we can do everything ourselves and that we don't need Him. It is important that elders and those under them act with humility towards one another. But especially before God himself, we must shred our pride and humble ourselves. God lifting us up in due time is when we are struggling and find no way out, we finally submit to God and let Him have His way. and He brings us out.
  21. It is man boasting on what he has, money, cars, grand home or what he has done, bragging on what a great job he has, what vacations he has taken, etc. By keeping our focus on Christ and giving Him the glory. Stealing God's glory in taking the credit for what God has done. We must always give God glory for what he has done, and not take credit for it ourselves. It is wonderful to be a part of a miracle, to be used by God, but we must always point to Him, not to ourselves. It can be dangerous because God does not taker it lightly. "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14)
  22. Listen to the customer and their needs, put them first, and be honest in their dealings and truthful in their advertising. Let another praise you and not your own mouth.
  23. No, If you are flattering someone to impress them or manipulate them it is the wrong motivation. If you truly appreciate them in what they are doing or have done and are truthful it is encouraging. If we are doing it with a difficult person, we are doing it to help ourselves and it is really untrue, and insincere. God desires truth. If flattery is manipulative and deceptive it does not please God.
  24. The verb origin of the Hebrew word for humble/meek Pastor Ralph wrote -- “to afflict, oppress and humble” -- puts a cast on the meaning of humble that makes sense to me. Perhaps, humility, or being humbled, is not just an attitude of mind, but a consequence of how other people view us (as a failure, power/status-less, weak or abused, “boundary-less,” functioning socially as a doormat, living without goals or aspirations, etc.) The worldly view of humility is decidedly negative, then, a characteristic secular people don’t value. So, recognizing the disdain with which seculars regard the value of humility, Christians are commanded to be humble anyway, to depend on God and not care what other’s think. I don't see Moses as innately humble -- Moses, when young when his character was fully revealed, has a huge **** for power and prestige. This can be seen in his early life when his schooling in power at the house of the Pharaoh came to fruition when he murdered a civilian. Forty subsequent years in the desert destroyed his hope, future, goals and aspirations and sense of self. He had been crushed in the desert, not only humbled – though prepared for his future calling. He had been afflicted and oppressed, as the word origin of humble connotes. Also, note that God, in His conversation with Moses, never praised him for his humility, but chastised him for whining and complaining. So, the essence of humility in Moses was a consequence of being destroyed and devastated in midlife. It’s the beaten-downness of Moses that we see, his giving up of dreams, the devastation of the promise he thought had been given to him. etc. Sometimes submission is coerced by God, and in the case of Moses, 40 years of isolation in a hot desert surrounded by dumb sheep … made him dependent on God, that is, humble.
  25. The building of the Temple was the building project that was designed to glorify God. The building of the palace was designed to glorify Solomon. The building of the walls was for the protection and security for the people. God has given me a bit of disposable income and the primary financial outlay that is designed to honor God is my giving to the Church. The monies that I give to missionary establishments is designed to serve others.
  26. Q41. (1 TIMOTHY 6:3-4,17; COLOSSIANS 2:18) Why does having an abundance of wealth and knowledge tend to make us feel superior? Why do false doctrines and heresies often come with a feeling of superiority over lesser Christians who believe differently? How can you show humility if you are wealthy? How can the well-educated show humility? It is so easy for us to take credit for everything we have achieved, our wealth, our knowledge, our possessions; forgetting who gave us the ability and opportunities for such success. We push God to the background and become proud of our own hard work and ability. Never thanking our Lord for everything we have, and not realising that all is due to His grace upon grace, and that we are here manage it for Him. Wealth, honour, power, and/or prestige add nothing to our value in God's eyes; only the faithful work we do for Him has eternal value. False doctrines can lead to a feeling of superiority; perhaps it’s the thinking of knowing something others don’t. Being wealthy and well-educated is a great responsibility but a wonderful opportunity to help those in need and to spread the gospel. In both cases we are not to be arrogant and not looking down upon people but rather trying to help others with love.
  27. Q40. (ROMANS 12:16; JAMES 2:1-9) Why does Christ's humility require us to associate those considered lowly? Who are the "lowly" in your community? What are you and your congregation actively doing to break down the barriers between these people and yourselves? What message does lack of favouritism send to a world that is intently watching Christians? Our Lord Jesus demonstrated and taught us that we should treat all people with respect. I feel we should look upon others as made in the image of God – especially those people who are normally looked down upon - the so called lowly. This may humble us as we may be too proud to mix with them. In my country with its extremes of poverty and riches the people that are sometimes looked down upon are the very poor, the unemployed, those of a different race or culture, the handicapped, sometimes the very young and even the elderly. Yes, we are actively involved in a sister church in a very poor area. I doubt whether the world would notice our lack of favouritism, but I feel that it is quick to notice favouritism or any other wrong in our churches and be extra quick to call us a bunch of hypocrites. Very quick to criticize and pass judgment and slow to give, if at all, any credit due.
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