Humility and Faith: Faith Requires Humility

In an address I lately heard, the speaker said that the blessings of the higher Christian life were often like the objects exposed in a shop window - one could see them clearly and yet could not reach them. If told to stretch out his hand and take, a man would answer, "I cannot; there is a thick pane of plate-glass between me and them."  And even so Christians may see clearly the blessed promises of perfect peace and rest, of overflowing love and joy, of abiding communion and fruitfulness, and yet feel that there was something between hindering the true possession.  And what might that be?  Nothing but pride.  (Murray, Andrew (2011-03-03). Humility, Chapter 9: Humility and Faith, (Kindle Locations 567-571). Niche Edition. Kindle Edition.)

INVISIBLE PRIDE

Pride often remain invisible, a strange sickness in which blindness to one's own condition is a symptom.  Reading the Bible, God's promises are great, but often ignored or diminished because we get used to seeing them on the other side of the glass of pride.

The invisible barrier of pride comes out in various phrases.  "I can't do that!  I can't live without that!  Why would I want to give that up?"  Our wills are enslaved to our immediate desires and passions.  Pride says, "I won't do what I can't do on my own otherwise my desires might go unsatisfied."

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The cost is high.  As long as we walk by sight and not by faith, the glass of pride remains keeping us from the "blessed promises of perfect peace and rest, or overflowing love and joy, of abiding communion and fruitfulness."  In short, the things of the kingdom of God.  "Even the most secret breathing of pride, in self-seeking, self-will, self-confidence, or self-exaltation, is just the strengthening of that self which cannot enter the kingdom or possess the things of the kingdom, because it refuses to allow God to be what He is and must be there - All in All."  (ibid, Kindle Locations 580-582)

When we begin to walk by faith and not by sight, we find that "humility is simply the disposition which prepares the soul for living on trust. . . .  Faith is the organ or sense for the perception and apprehension of the heavenly world and its blessings.  Faith seeks the glory that comes from God, that only comes where God is All. . . .  Pride renders faith impossible."  (ibid, Kindle Locations 583-584)  As Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 18:3-4, ESV)

SALVATION THROUGH HUMILITY

Recently my pride hid from my eyes as self-loathing.  The anger of pride was directed inward.  I could not even ask for help.  I felt there was no place for me and no hope for me.  I believe some of it is seasonal, but there was something more intense and desperate as I struggled through my days.  I did not see it as pride.  Actually, I probably thought it was humility of sorts.

But in this self-loathing was also a complete lack of faith.  I had no trust in God, in what he made me, how he has walked with me, nor in where he might take me.  I was stubbornly determined to take my own path, even if it was self-destructive.  I can see how pride brings self-destruction.  It may be through despair or anger or lust, but the refusal to give in to God is the same.

I needed salvation, deliverance in an active sense.  Such salvation requires humility and faith.  "Salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ. Salvation is the fellowship with the crucified Christ in the Spirit of His cross. Salvation is union with and delight in, salvation is participation in, the humility of Jesus."  (ibid, Kindle Locations 585-586)  When God showed me that my struggle was with pride, not with any real deficiency, I was able to give in and call for help.

God's help almost always involves the grace of other people.  Instead of driving them off, I began seeking them out.  Instead of hiding myself and worrying about my peculiarities, I began to exercise them as gifts and talents.  Pride renders faith impossible partly (maybe mostly) because it renders relationships impossible.  Pride ends in collapse of the self and the ruin of the soul.  Humility welcomes relationships and seeks them out.  It opens the self to God in an attitude of worship and self-sacrifice, which rebuilds and fortifies the soul.

Lord, may my life be open before you as a living sacrifice.  May the glass of pride be shattered by the truth of my humble position, my humble needs, and my humble offerings to you.  May my humility not remain a mere abstraction, but show up in all my relationships as I lay my life down before you.  Amen.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;    my eyes are not raised too high;I do not occupy myself with things    too great and too marvelous for me.But I have calmed and quieted my soul,    like a weaned child with its mother;    like a weaned child is my soul within me.O Israel, hope in the Lord    from this time forth and forevermore.  (Psalm 131, ESV)