Blessitudes: Humility

July 5, 2020                  NOTES NOT EDITED
Series:  Blessitudes:  Attitudes that Elevate

Mt. 5:3-Humility

Series In A Sentence: Blessing and happiness are not automatic but requires we develop the proper “attitudes” that elevate our lives to a higher, spiritual plane.

SIS:    Humility is a “Blessitude” that promotes a greater sense of satisfaction by developing a proper attitude toward God and understanding of our selves.

Karl Menninger was a world-renowned psychiatrist. He wrote the bestselling book, "Whatever Became of Sin?"  The book sold millions.  Menninger believed that moral health and mental health were synonymous.  He believed that a person’s attitude about situations were more important than the facts of the matter.  Menniger once said, "attitudes are more important than facts!"  Our circumstances are the “facts of life.”  These facts may or may not change for the better, but regardless of the facts, we can be happy if we have the right attitude.

The “attitudes” that lead to blessing I call “Blessitudes,” a play on the words blessings and attitudes, which the Bible teaches are closely related.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus outlined eight "blessitudes."  Let's read these "blessitudes" together:

(Mat 5:3-12)   "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {4} Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. {5} Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. {6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. {7}Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. {8} Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. {9} Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. {10} Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11}"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. {12} Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The First "Blessitude" menitioned is "humility."  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:3).

Before we look at how a humble attitude breeds a happy life, let's examine two important words: "blessed and humble."  Most translations begin these sentences with the word "blessed," not "happy."  The Good News Bible (Today's English Version) is one notable exception:  it says, "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor."

The problem with using the word, "happy," is that "happy" has been  "devalued in modern usage."   Happiness is a feeling, whereas, "blessedness," denotes the approval of God, and the security, hope, and lasting joy that approval brings.

The word, makarios , expresses something much more fulfilling and lasting than “mere happiness.”  Whereas, “happiness” is based upon fortunate circumstances (good luck), blessedness is based upon a privileged relationship with Almighty God, the Creator.  Did you catch that? Blessedness is a relationship. Most people never experience “blessedness” because they are not interested in being “close to their Holy Creator.”  Most people would rather settle for a “little good luck” every now and again rather than a lasting fulfillment.  

In using this word, makarios , Jesus is trying to highlight the difference between momentary “good luck” and lasting blessedness.  He is trying to shock His listeners into a new attitude – an attitude that leads to “real happiness” or blessedness.

The word for “poor” is also very important.  It, too is a word that would have “shocked” the listeners and even offended some of them. The word for poor is, “ptōchoi, ptwcoi. ”  This word painted a picture in the mind of those to whom Jesus preached of a “sore-covered, rag-wearing, smelly tramp at the point of starvation.”   This word would have definitely captured the attention of the crowd – many of which were rich and religious.  Now, put these two words together and see how shocking they would have been to the prim and proper crowd listening to Jesus speak:“ the most privileged people who are closest to God are those who are so poor they must beg for food just to stay alive.”  These people would “cower in dark corners” trying to hide their shame with the shadows and tattered sheets.  

 
Note, however, Jesus was not talking about “physical poverty” because He added the words, tō pneumati, “in the spirit.”  Jesus had a much greater “poverty” in mind.  He was thinking of an impoverished soul.  Jesus was thinking of “eternal poverty.”

The Lord wanted to shock the sensibilities of the crowd so they would change their attitudes about life - especially eternal life.  The word, poor, ptōkos, accomplished that task, especially when linked with makarios, or blessing. 

In the Greek world of that day “humility,” (any sense of impoverishment or low standing) would have been offensive to their mindset.  It is not much different today.  Watch how people walk around the homeless today trying to avoid any contact with the “poor and lowly.”   Jesus shocks us into a new attitude by showing us that we are ALL POOR BEGGARS when compared with Almighty God.  Only by His favor are we not annihilated by His Holiness.

Most of us don’t see ourselves as beggars.  So many of us have the attitude that, “God should be pleased that we give Him a few bucks of our money and a few minutes of our time.”   The two words, blessed and poor, are like “shock therapy for the soul” to help us reflect upon who we really are and how important it is to have a relationship with God.  

With the foundation of these two words, blessed and poor, we can begin to understand why humility is the number one “blessitude.” Verse three, then, could read: "Eternally blessed is the one who recognizes his or her spiritual poverty and acknowledges the privileged position he or she can have in Christ."  

How, then, does this attitude of humility promote lasting happiness? In three ways, Helps us Admit our Spiritual Needs,

1.  First, a humble spirit allows us to admit our spiritual NEED.

One of the axioms of counseling is: “a person can never begin to get free of their problem or addiction until they freely admit they have a problem or addiction.”  

This is also – maybe more so – true in spiritual matters. Blessedness begins when you admit you are physically, emotionally, and spiritually inadequate to gain any sense of lasting enjoyment in this life apart from God.  {repeat}.

The prophet Isaiah recognized his spiritual poverty when he cried:

(Isa 6:5)   "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips"

Humility is NOT humiliation.  Humiliation is something others do to degrade or belittle us and make us less than we are. Humiliation leads to a false self-esteem.  Humility is simply a personal realization of our spiritual bankruptcy and the recognition of exactly "who we are."  Humility breeds a "proper self-esteem," when we realize who we are in Christ.

The Bible teaches that we are totally depraved and absolutely incapable of any true or lasting good apart from God.  Paul describes total depravity in the Book of Romans.

(Rom 3:10-18) {10}As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; {11}there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. {12}All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." {13}"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." {14}"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." {15}"Their feet are swift to shed blood; {16}ruin and misery mark their ways, {17}and the way of peace they do not know." {18}"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Not a flattering view of humanity. The opposite of humility is pride.  Pride is a form of "self-delusion." Pride blinds a person to his true nature and allows him to continue down a path of self-destruction.  I try to keep Proverbs 16:18 ever before me: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

Humility opens our eyes to our need,  and sets us on a path to health and happiness.  Humility admits, "I need help, I cannot do it on my own!" We all know that an alcoholic or a drug addict cannot be helped until they personally acknowledge their need.  Likewise, regardless of the particular sin that "besets any of us,"  we will never gain victory until we admit our need.  Until a person acknowledges how lost he or she is, one will never discover salvation and the lasting blessedness it brings.

(Prov 22:4)   Humility and the fear of the LORD  bring wealth and honor and life.  Or, as Jesus said: “The one who admits his or her spiritual poverty, will inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Mat. 5:3).

The opposite is also true,   "pride and ignoring the Lord will bring poverty and eternal death."  One reason humility leads to blessedness is because it eliminates the illusion that we can achieve lasting blessedness by acquiring material possessions or achieving worldly power.   Human efforts cannot bring us blessedness and prosperity. Without God we sink deeper and deeper into a quagmire of materialism without gaining any lasting sense of blessedness. Until we recognize our true spiritual poverty we will seek to fill our emotional and spiritual void with things that cannot satisfy.  We are all like the "woman at the well.”  We used to sing a hymn about that:

Like the woman at the well I was seeking, // for things that could not satisfy, // And then I heard my Savior speaking, // Draw from the well that never shall run dry.

A humble spirit enables us to admit our spiritual poverty and proceed down the path to spiritual prosperity.  Secondly, a humble spirit

2.  motivates us to embrace the true source of spiritual power.

Humility will always draw you to the Lord like thirst draws a deer to a gentle stream.  (Psa 42:1)   As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

One great preacher has said, "Once you admit your need you can turn your chains in change!" Humility empowers you; it does not enslave you. Humility allows us to shed the shackles of self-gratification and embrace the spiritual power found in Jesus Christ. There is a story in the Bible that illustrates this point. Turn to Mark 10:46

(Mark 10:46-52)   Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. {47}When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" {48}Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" {49}Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." {50}Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. {51}"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." {52}"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Here is a very poignant story of how humility can bring indescribable blessedness.  Bartimaeus probably sat in that same spot for many years, perhaps all his life begging for the few crumbs he might get from kind passersby.  We know from his pitiful cry for mercy that Bartimaeus recognized his deplorable state of misery, unworthiness, and helplessness.  No one had to convince Bartimaeus of his impoverished condition.  NOTICE how Bartimaeus' impoverished state motivated him to seek out assistance.  He was tired of his predicament.  He could have wasted the remainder of his days bathing in self-pity, which is a form of pride, but instead he humbled himself and called upon the Son of David, Jesus Christ.

Bartimaeus needed a miracle, and he had heard about Jesus, the Miracle- worker.  Nothing was going to deter him from connecting with that spiritual power.  Stripped of pride by his impoverished condition he began to "yell at the top of his lungs, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."  He did not immediately seek his sight, but first of all, simply the mercy of God's touch.

He used the term, "Son of David," which meant he believed Jesus was the Messiah.  The crowd pushed him back and tried to silence him, but the Word says he only shouted louder, "Son of David," have mercy on me!"  The deeper your sense of poverty and weakness, the more motivated you are to embrace the source of real power and blessedness.  The opinion of the crowd does not matter.

This blind beggar had asked for help all his life.  This was the first time he ever had the chance to get plugged into the true source of power.  Humility, allowed him to disregard the opinions and opposition of the crowd and seek out Jesus.  Pride must always bow to the peer pressure of the crowd.   Humility allows a person to rise above the mediocrity of the crowd to plug into the power of the Messiah. A humble spirit, recognizes one's spiritual poverty and motivates one to seek out and embrace the true source of power.

HUMILITY DOES NOT WEAKEN A PERSON, BUT HUMILITY EMPOWERS A PERSON TO  COURAGEOUSLY SURRENDER TO GOD AND SERVE OTHERS.  Humility is a "blessitude" because it emancipates us from the shackles of self-centeredness; it motivates us to embrace the source of true power. Thirdly, humility releases us to 

3.  Enjoy fully the riches of our spiritual position.

Turn back to Matthew 5:3:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven .

We are children of the King and the kingdom of heaven is our inheritance. The Bible declares,  (Eph 2:4-7)   But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, {5}made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. {6}And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, {7}in order that in the coming ages he might show THE INCOMPARABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

How much is the "kingdom of heaven worth to you?"  I think much misfortune and despair derives from a failure of God's people to truly understand our position in Christ. Pride causes us to look at what we don't have in our closet , instead of what we do have in Christ. Pride causes us to focus on our self, instead of our Savior.  Pride causes us to focus on the "here-and-now" and ignore the "here-after." Pride always stops us too soon, and far short of our potential. Pride causes us to settle for cheap thrills and common amusements, instead of the deep riches a life lived by faith. As a result, we clutter our lives with the meaningless trinkets of this world, and fail to fully enjoy the treasures of the real world. Matthew tells us elsewhere (Mat 6: 19-21)

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "

Humility allows us to enjoy our privileged position in Christ. Pride causes us to sell out too cheap, and stop too short! 

A few decades ago Henry C. Morrison was returning on a ship after 40 long, difficult, but rewarding years as a missionary to Africa.  On that same ship travelled President Theodore Roosevelt.  The ship docked in N.Y. harbor.  As the President disembarked, bands played and the people cheered.  When Morrison departed there was no cheering crowds or ticker-tape parades.  He was deeply saddened.  In a moment of egotistical weakness, he thought that he should certainly receive some recognition for 40 years of service when he returned home. Then a small voice came to him--"you're not home yet!"

Remember what Meninger said, "attitudes are more important than facts!" The facts of the matter may be that your life is difficult and discouraging. It may be void of recognition. Physically, emotionally, or economically you may be poor.  But, with the right attitude--you can rise above circumstances and realize just how rich you are in Christ.  Humility is a "blessitude" that promotes a greater sense of satisfaction and blessedness by developing a proper attitude toward God, ourselves, and others.

When life seems hard and devoid of material blessings, humbly bow in gratitude to Almighty God and remember:  “you are not home, yet!” Never forget, “yours is the Kingdom of heaven!”