“The Case For Christ: - Kingdom/God: The Rein of Humility”

‘I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.’ (Jer 17:10, along with Rev 2:23b)

The perfect law of love, as Jesus taught it, is far superior to the normal patterns of the world.

But - Jesus centered the standards for His people in it.

Since it springs out from the inner state of the Christian, Christ holds before them the rule of ‘Be ye perfect’ or ‘be complete in righteousness’ or ‘become spiritually mature’, even as your Father in heaven is perfect’.

And coming out from this standard is the correlating pattern so basic in going forward in Christ - the quality of attitude called ‘humility’. 

Tonight, let us look at ‘humility’ together to see its utmost importance for living in the kingdom of God.

Of course, in our day, ‘humility’ is a trait not greatly admired anymore. We tend to question a man’s ‘self-esteem’ when he is a truly humble man - do we not?

But Jesus talked about humility often as one of the reins of His kingdom.

It was not difficult for Jesus to teach as He did concerning humility because of the innate fineness of His own spirit.

He had humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation by taking on the form of a servant and becoming ‘obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.’ 

In His life, He kept away from all ostentation and pretense.
He emptied Himself and served only for the joy that was set before Him, the joy of serving other people and blessing them, and not for any self-exaltation.

When a woman, in a crowd where Jesus was speaking, shouted out a round-about compliment about Him, Jesus adroitly drew the attention, instead, to their believing the word of God and then obeying it. (Lu 11:27)

Neither did He make any claim to Messiahship. He just waited for the disciples to ‘see’ it through divine revelation. (Mk 8:29)

To stress the importance, several writers of the New Testament took up this important part of Jesus’ teaching on humility.
  
Paul, for one, kept telling his converts not to think of themselves ‘more highly than they ought to think, but to think with sober judgment,...’ (Rom 12:3)

And, in Rom 12:16, he told them to ‘Have equal regard for one another: do not let your thoughts be highflown, but accommodate yourselves to humble ways and do not think you know it all!’  

To the Philippians, he wrote: ‘...in lowliness of mind, with true humility, let each esteem others better than himself’. (Phil 2:3)

James repeated the Old Testament rule for humility when he said: ‘Humble yourselves’ or ‘be made low in the presence of the Lord’ ‘and He shall lift you up, exalt you.’
(Jas 4:10)

And it was Peter who told his readers to ‘be clothed with humility’ or ‘wrap yourselves in the garment of humility’...for God resists, opposes, the proud and gives grace, favor, help, is kind to the humble.’ (1 Pet 5:5) 

With such strong admonitions that followed Jesus’ teachings of humility, we must conclude that what He taught was of no minor significance.

Thus, what did Jesus teach about humility?

If we examine His teaching closely on the subject, we will see that He was not demanding self-abasement but He was giving a challenge to the ‘greatness of life’.

He was basing it on spiritual hunger, the thirsting for and the looking forward to, the possibilities of the highest height that can be gained in Christ.

In this aspiration, the eye has its focus on one thing: it does not say, ‘I abase myself’, but, it says, rather: ‘I press on...I have not yet apprehended!’

With that, turn with me to Luke 17:7-10 - Luke 17:7-10.

Here is an illustration in which Jesus warned His servants against over-estimating themselves. 

This particular story follows a request the disciples made.

They had appealed to Him for an increase of faith. (v 5) 

Jesus had given some perplexing conditions His disciples would meet as they lived in His kingdom.

He discussed the stumbling blocks, the pitfalls, that would be thrown into their paths as they journeyed onward.  

He spoke of the ruin that comes into the lives of those unwilling to forgive and of the difficulties involved in the act of full and true forgiveness. 

By about that time, the disciples, probably a little disheartened at such an unattainable standard Jesus was setting, interrupted and said meekly to Him: ‘Lord, increase our faith’!

When they looked at the conditions needed for going on in His kingdom, the difficulties that yet lay ahead of them, and their attitudes that still needed changing in them, they could not help but ask Him to increase their faith.   

I think that they probably never spoke more intelligently than they did at that moment.

Why was that such a wise and intelligent request?  

It was because the depth of faith this kind of living required is not a natural thing for man.

But their hungering and thirsting after the spiritual food He was able to give them made them to unpretentiously ask of Him, ‘Lord, increase our faith’. 

Already they were humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God!

And what natural man would not feel his lack for such an essential requirement for living in God’s kingdom?

Nothing short of that intensity of faith - nothing short of humbly yielding to God - was needed to take hold upon the unseen and bring it to bear on all of life’s activities!

It would take true faith, a God-given gift, a gift that comes out from the mind of God to guide His people.

And to guide His people aright, what better way than teach humility, the kind of spirit that will not put stumbling blocks in the way of the world! 

So Jesus went on by using the simple illustration of the workmen in the fields in verse 7.

He spoke of workmen who labored and slaved all day in the hot, burning sun. They did the plowing and the keeping of the sheep - attended to the many duties demanded of them.

At the end of the day, the master sat down for his usual evening meal.

Now - should they expect him to invite them to dinner where he would now wait on them in return for their work?

No! Of course not! 

Look at v 10: ‘So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all the things commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done which was our duty to do.’      

What is Jesus getting at in this illustration?

The normal expectation of doing their jobs was fulfilled. They should expect nothing more from their master than their normal remuneration.

They were only servants, imperfect workmen at best, who are to humbly do their jobs.

This is the proper servant attitude. 

Of course, it is exactly opposite from the world’s attitude.

The world expects commendation, applause, status, some special ‘perks’ for a ‘job well done’.

And there is nothing wrong with ‘perks’ and commendations. In fact, a wise and good businessman knows how to use these things to great advantage. 

But - remember - this is Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ request for increased faith.

To respond to their appeal, in effect, He told His disciples: ‘Forget about your accomplishments! Forget about your own spiritual victories! 

As you go about each day in My kingdom, remember what you are and what you do comes only because of God’s hand directly upon you. 

And for that, you can take absolutely no credit at all! It is all by His grace that you are even able to function as a branch in His kingdom!’

Does this mean that Jesus Christ is a taskmaster Who has no appreciation for who and what we are and have done?

Of course it does not! 

If you quickly go over to Lu 12:35-37, you will see just the opposite to what He said in Luke 17. Again, this is in Lu 12:35-37.

There it reads: ‘Let your loins be gird about, and your lamps burning, and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord when he shall return...Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh, shall find watching; verily, I say unto you, that he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and shall come and serve them.’

Do you see the difference between the two illustrations?

What the master does in Lu 12 symbolizes the endless flowing of God’s grace toward His servants.

They each have been given a task to do through their journey upon earth.

And when it is finished, they are received with appreciation and are honored.

But what Jesus said in Luke 17 symbolizes what the servant’s attitude should be as he is doing what Christ expects of him to do while on earth. 

He searches the heart! he tries the reins!   

He takes note of all service unto Him and how it is done.

It is His appraisal that counts in the end!

When His servants tasks are done, when their days are over, Jesus will prepare a feast for them and serve them.

He will say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant!’

But until that time comes, they are to continue to go on faithfully - as hard and thankless as it may be at times - keep plowing the ground, planting the seed, tending to the sheep day after day, year after year, looking only for the master’s return.

Can you now grasp the need for humility in order to live in the kingdom of God?   

It is reasonable, for - you see - when the servant of Christ does what Christ demands, it is not by his own power and might that it is done!

Oh no! It is possible only through that living faith coming endlessly out from the mind of God!

And that means that we have nothing to boast of.  

All that we are and do, we owe to God’s sovereign, distinguishing grace that He gives to those living under His reign.

Whatever He gives us, whatever He does for us, is strictly of His grace.

I wonder if we really can believe that and can embrace that as we ought to!

If we can grasp that fully, we will see how humbling such an attitude is!

Do you know why Jesus taught His servants such a hard thing?

He is against the self-assertiveness of the spirit of the natural man that pushes himself forward, that grasps for himself, and that puts himself above others, that exudes an air of superiority over others. 

He thought of the goodness required in His kingdom as a
‘moving onward’ and that cannot take place without the humble spirit.

He is just satisfying the spiritual hunger and the thirst we ache for with the ‘formula’ to a ‘pure other-centeredness’! 

However, the problem facing us is that we look at God and say to Him, ‘I will not trust You. I think I can find a better way to make my life work without You! This ‘humility scene’ is not for me!’

That was what Jesus was seeing, in Lu 14:7, when He saw a group of invited guests at a feast vying for the places of honor.

Each one of them wanted the chief seats. But Jesus told them: ‘Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.’

He knew men’s hearts. Their self-exalted attitudes were waving red flags all around the dinner table. 

Their pride was repugnant to Jesus.  

He knew that all men are naturally proud and self-righteous. 

He knew how the arrogant eyes of our understanding are just naturally blinded!

We see neither ourselves, nor our own lives, nor do we see God, nor do we see His law of love nor His rule of humility as we ought to see. 

We think far more highly of ourselves and our own self-righteous character than we have any right to do.

Most of us can see arrogance so very clearly in other people and we think nothing of flattering ourselves in regarding others being worse than we are.

Very few of us will admit to our own stinking pride! Most of us just wish to ‘fight and flee’ rather than learn of our own self-conceit!

That is an unfortunate bearing to have, for it stifles us -  makes us miserable to ourselves, makes every one around us sad and intimidated, and worst of all - it dishonors and disgraces the glory of God in Christ! 

In the light of all this, we ask again: ‘Why did Jesus emphasize humility as a needful condition to living in His kingdom?’

It is because the root of humility is right knowledge - right knowledge of one’s self, right knowledge of God, and right knowledge of Christ. 

Do you know why most of us are deficient in deep, spiritual humility? 

It is because of ignorance - sheer ignorance - of these facts. 

Let me ask you: where is spiritual meekness and modesty when ‘we do our righteousness before men to be seen of them?’

Where is progress and growth without the humble spirit ‘in the sight of the Lord’ who promises to lift us up? 

Where is that consciousness of one’s need to be ‘clothed with humility’ and grace? 

Do we realize that when Jesus taught His people to ‘be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect’, there is no other attitude possible than humility in order to attain to what He aspires for His own.

Very, very wise, spiritually, is the person who knows himself and his own heart - who knows God and His infinite holiness that He so willingly gives to men.

Spiritually wise - very, very wise - is the person who understands his own unworthiness and who is not afraid to stand in the face of Jesus Christ as He shines His light into that person.

Wise is the person who seeks God’s approval in this way rather than seeking men’s admiration, who dares to pray: ‘Lord, increase my faith’.

He has responded to the divine challenge toward the greatness of life! Greatness of life is within his reach!

With that, I will close for tonight. 

I pray we all will be hungry and thirsty enough to desire to enter into a far greater joy of our salvation by being clothed in the humility of Christ! 

Let me encourage you to seek the Lord for this in your own heart.

May the Lord bless you this week to that end. 

Amen.

Let us pray. 

‘Song:

‘We worship You, O Lord
In spirit and truth.
We worship You before Your throne,
We praise You, Lord.

We glorify Your name, We magnify Your name, 
We magnify Your name.
And we exalt You, Lord, over all
We praise You, Lord!’

Repeat