“He is a proud man, and he is like death, and cannot be satisfied.” (Hab. 2:5, NKJV)
We are currently discussing the story of Gen. 32, which is centred around Jacob’s change of name and identity at the Jabbok. There is a prerequisite for this transformation to take place, we learnt from the previous teachings – a conscious attitude of humility.
It is indeed very interesting – humility is not one of the facets of the fruit of the Spirit:
- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23)
- “(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Eph. 5:9).
Humility does not grow from inner man, as is expected – Col. 3:12 states that it is attracted, externally: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering …” The observant reader will immediately notice that some of the other Spiritual characteristics that are mentioned in Col. 3:12, are also found in the two definitions of the fruit of the Spirit quoted above, and the reason for this is that they spring forth from both internal growth that takes place through our Godly nature (2 Pet. 1:4), but that it ALSO needs to be ‘attracted’ through a conscious approach to one’s life.
The reason for this not only accentuates the importance of humility, but also points out that humility is actually the counter of something else – pride.
In two instances in the New Testament pride is mentioned along with a number of other elements natural man engages in, “things which are not fitting” (Rom. 1:28). In Rom. 1:30-31 “proud” people are grouped along with those that are “haters of God”, “violent”, “inventors of evil things”, “unforgiving”, “unmerciful”. Verse 32 makes the implications for these types of people clear, in no uncertain terms: “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Be afraid!
In 2 Tim. 3:2-4 the proud are grouped together with very dubious believers, who are called, “lovers of themselves”, “lovers of money”, “boasters”, “blasphemers”, “unholy”, “unloving”, “brutal”, “despisers of good”, “haughty”, “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”, their judgement in verse 5 quite dooming: “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
- Selah: Are you proud?
- Read: 4-5; 2 Cor. 8.
- Memorise: 2 Cor. 8:11.
