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NASB | Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud (haughty, arrogant). |
Bible Question: How do you stay humble, and still use all the power yhat God has given you through the Holy Spirit? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Grace... I can see the problem you are having. I would question the eternal value of anything a proud person does, because God thwarts the proud in their every endeavor, but God gives grace to the humble (Job 22:29; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). I think the best definition I ever heard on this topic went like this, "Humility is knowing who God is and knowing who I am." Indeed, I'd go so far as to assert that the proud don't know who God really is and who they really are. Pride is the opposite of humility. The proud don't give top priority to God but to themselves. The proud don't obey God by regarding others as more important than themselves. The proud won't submit to God’s will. Often humility is taught to the proud by the Lord through humiliation (Proverbs 18:12; 29:23). But I think it is right and proper for us to seek the virtue of humility (Matthew 23:12; Colossians 3:12), for it is only there that we will be in the presence of God (Isaiah 57:15). Furthermore, pride is an attribute of the wicked (Psalm 10:4). So the question is: How shall we promote our own humility? The definition above gives us a clue about our search for humility. We should study to know who God is and study to know who we are. Working through a good book on the attributes of God is a good start. I highly recommend J. I. Packer's "Knowing God" or A. W. Tozer's "Knowledge of the Holy" or A. W. Pink's "Sovereignty of God." Those books will also rightly teach you man's place. All believers who are serious about their walk should read these books. All of these books are grounded in the Scriptures. Nevertheless, here are a few things that you might find helpful in the pursuit of humility: 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 gives accurate view of ministerial responsibilities. 2 Corinthians 4:5 gives us what we are teach about ourselves and Christ. Galatians 2:20 and Philippians 1:21 the basic priorities of our hearts when we are viewing God and ourself correctly. Philippians 2:5-11 teaches us to have the same attitude as Jesus. It describes His attitude and the results. Colossians 3:1-4 gives two categories to identify what we are to seek and what we are to think about. It also tells us what not to seek or what not to dwell on. 1 Timothy 4:6-16 gives detailed directions to a God-honoring humility. Hebrews 11:1-3, 6-16 shows humility's form in true faith James 3:13-18 speaks to the wisdom of humility and the foolishness of envy and selfish ambition. 1 Peter 2:11-17 provides practical consequences of humility in relation to lust and government. While 1 Peter 2:18-25 tells us how a humble believer receives unfair treatment. 1 John 2:15-17 has a great deal of application in our pursuit of humility. Revelation 21:1-7 reveals clearly who God is and who we are. All right behavior is rooted in right understanding. That's why Paul, for example, spends half of his epistles on doctrine and the other half on application. The Scriptures I've mentioned above contain life changing truth. If you understand rightly who God is and who you are, and evaluate your life in the light of this understanding, everything becomes clear. You will learn unfeigned humility in ministry, marriage, Bible study, parenting, career, etc. In Him, Doc |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Prov 16:19 | Author | ||
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Grace460 | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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MDW54 |