Humility – The Cure for Worldliness
James 4:1-10
But humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. [James 4:10]
It begins by setting aside your pride and simply saying “Lord, I need help.” The fact of the matter is that you and I need help to get to heaven, and that help is Jesus. “Behold the Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world.” Jesus, God’s only Son, became that last Passover Lamb sacrificed over 2000 years ago. Because Jesus went to the Cross and died for our sins, death now passes over all who by faith believe. It is the greatest work of mankind, the 100 percent forgiveness of your sins that you might become the righteousness of God. This, however, begins with humility. Anyone receiving God’s gift of His Son, must humble himself and confess, “I am a sinner in need of a Savior.”
After salvation, however, humility must continue. Humility keeps our faith growing while pride keeps our “self” growing. Humility keeps us leaning on the Lord while pride keeps us leaning on ourselves. In pride we think we’re wise enough to find our way. We forget that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” [1 Cor 3:19]; and that “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him” [1 Cor 2:14].
In James 3 we noted the difference between “the wisdom from above” [3:7] and the wisdom from below [ref. 3:15]. They are diametrically [yet subtly] opposed. One is rooted in God and the other in self. The wisdom from above is “willing to yield” [3:17]; and the wisdom from below is “earthly, sensual, demonic.” [3:15]
Humility is the key toward the former. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” In the Kingdom, the way up is down. The highest posture and place is facedown at the foot of the Cross. James 4:10 is the absolute truth yet contrary to the natural man. Heavens cure for worldliness is the Spirit-filled character of humility.
