Humility That God Sees
Introduction
There is a kind of humility that God sees in our lives. It is not simply about appearing humble before people, because there is also a false humility that can look humble on the outside while actually being driven by pride. Colossians 2:18 warns us about “false humility,” showing us the importance of discerning the humility that God is looking for in us. This humility is produced by the Spirit of Christ and is part of the transformation that takes place through the Gospel of water and the Spirit.
As children of God, we are still human. We make mistakes, we are weak, and we are still living in this body. Although we have been born again and are living the new creation life, the flesh is still present. This means we need a constant awareness and conscious desire to walk in the Spirit, to please God and honour Him with our lives. When we walk in the flesh, we can even mistake what is produced by the flesh for true humility.
This is why false humility can be so subtle. It may appear through modesty, devotion or the way we present ourselves, while the underlying motive is still pride, self-righteousness or the desire for approval from others. We need to examine our motives, our intentions and the reasons behind our actions. Hebrews 3:13 warns us about the deceitfulness of sin, while Hebrews 5:13–14 teaches us to grow in the Word of righteousness so that we can become mature and learn to distinguish what is truly good from what is evil.
Jesus Christ gives us the ultimate example of the humility that God sees. Yet, interestingly, John 5:18 shows that the Jews sought to kill Jesus because they considered His words and actions arrogant, even though He was the most humble and meek. Jesus stood uncompromisingly on the truth of who He was and His relationship with the Father. In the same way, humility before God does not mean compromising His truth simply to gain the acceptance or approval of people.
Humility is shown through Jesus’ baptism, death and resurrection. Jesus humbled Himself, came in the form of a man and gave His life as a ransom so that we could be raised with Him into newness of life. As the Spirit of Christ dwells within us, this same humility should become evident in our lives. We can therefore examine ourselves through four traits which are: humble heart gives God the glory, recognises God’s gift, acknowledges God’s providence, and serves others.
Humble Heart Gives God The Glory
A humble heart will always give the glory back to God. In 1 Corinthians 1:26–31, Paul reminds us that not many are wise according to the flesh, mighty or noble, but God chooses the foolish, the weak, the despised and the things which are not so that no flesh should glory in His presence. When we understand this, we recognise that we have nothing to boast about before God. Whatever we have become is not a reason to lift ourselves up, but a reason to give all glory to Him.
Paul then brings us to the right place when he says, “He who glories, glory in the Lord.” A humble heart does not try to take credit for itself, but gives all the glory to God. It acknowledges that God is the One who has worked in our lives and turned us around for His glory. There is no place for the flesh to come before God and say, “I am talented, I am good, I have achieved this or that.” All of us have fallen short of the glory of God, so there is nothing in ourselves that we can use as a reason to boast.
This is why we need to grow in the Word of righteousness. Hebrews 5:13–14 teaches us that those who are mature have their senses trained to discern between what is good and what is evil. As we become skilled in the Word, we come to understand that there is nothing righteous in ourselves apart from God. We stop being focused on our own goodness and achievements and come to the place where we know that God alone is righteous. This maturity helps us recognise where the glory truly belongs.
The Gospel of water and Spirit brings us to freedom from the desire for personal credit and recognition. As this Gospel works in our lives, we begin to realise that it is not about us, but all about Him. We no longer need to struggle for appreciation, accolades or affirmation because we can gladly acknowledge that everything comes from God. A humble heart will therefore always point back to Him, boast in the Lord and give Him all the credit, knowing that God alone is worthy of the glory.
Humble Heart Recognises God’s Gift
A humble heart recognises that everything we have has been received from God. In 1 Corinthians 4:6–7, Paul asks, “What do you have that you did not receive?” This brings us to an important understanding: our talents, abilities, possessions, finances, family, children and even our life itself are not things that we can claim as our own achievement. Since we have received them, there is no reason for us to boast as though we have produced them by ourselves.
There is nothing wrong with having talent or ability. God can take someone who has very little and train that person to become useful for His purpose. Even things we possessed before coming into the kingdom of God can be sanctified and used for His glory. What matters is that we recognise where these things ultimately come from. When we understand that God is the One who has given us what we have, we will no longer look at our abilities as something to exalt ourselves with, but as something entrusted to us for His glory.
This applies to every area of our lives. Our money, family, children, appearance, influence, possessions and even the small things we may overlook are gifts that we have received. We may be able to make an impact on others or possess something that sets us apart, but even that is not a reason to boast. Instead, we can recognise God’s hand and say, “Thank You, God. This has come from You.” When we acknowledge Him in this way, our hearts are brought into the humility that God is looking for.
A humble heart therefore does not take ownership of the glory that belongs to God. Whether it is our talent, financial standing, influence, family or anything else we have received, we should willingly acknowledge that it came from Him and give the glory back to Him. This is the humility that God sees. When we remain in that place, God can continue to work in our lives, bring increase and use everything He has given us for His purpose and glory.
Humble Heart Acknowledges God’s Providence
A humble heart acknowledges that our life and everything concerning us are in God’s hands. James 4:13–17 reminds us not to speak as though we are completely in control of tomorrow. We may make plans, go to another city, work, buy and sell, and make a profit, but we do not know what will happen tomorrow. Our life is like a vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, we should say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
There is nothing wrong with planning for the future. We can make plans, prepare ahead, save money and make provision for what may come. The problem begins when we think that we are in control of tomorrow and speak as though everything depends on our own ability. The world may see that kind of confidence as a strength, but the humble heart recognises that our breath, our heartbeat, our future and our provision all belong to God. He gives, and He takes, and we acknowledge that everything ultimately comes from Him.
This means acknowledging God’s providence in both our spiritual and physical lives. The food we have, the roof over our heads, our work, the money that comes in and even the strength to wake up each morning are all part of His providence. We can say, “God, my life belongs to You. My future is in Your hands.” When we willingly acknowledge Him in this way, we are no longer relying on our own strength or claiming that we can accomplish everything by ourselves.
This is the humility that God sees—a heart that agrees with God’s sovereign will and providence. The Gospel of water and Spirit continually points us back to this dependence on God, reminding us that the glory belongs to Him and that everything we have is a gift from Him. As we recognise His providence in every part of our lives, we can remain humble and thankful, trusting Him with our present, our future and everything He has entrusted to us.
Humble Heart Serves Others
A humble heart that God sees is one that serves others. This must be evident in the lives of those who have been born of the water and Spirit. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of this humility because He is the personification of humility. When we have the Spirit of Christ within us and are united with Him, there should also be a desire within us to have the same servant heart. Our humility should therefore be seen through our willingness to serve others and not simply expect others to serve us.
Philippians 2:3–8 shows us the attitude that should be present in us: not doing things through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, esteeming others and looking not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others. This is the mind that Christ had. Jesus left us the perfect example of humility, and He now dwells within us to bring us to conform to His likeness. As the Gospel of water and Spirit transforms us, there must be an evident change in our lives and a growing desire to serve others.
Jesus also taught this clearly in Mark 10:42–45. The world may define greatness through authority and position, but Jesus said that it should not be so among His people. Whoever desires to become great should become a servant, and whoever desires to be first should be the servant of all. Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. True humility therefore changes our understanding of greatness and leads us to serve rather than seek to be served.
This servant heart must then be displayed through our lifestyle. We can serve our family, our spouse, our children and the people around us, but one of the greatest ways we can serve is to serve the Gospel. We are called to encourage those who are already in the faith and help those who have not yet come to know the Gospel of water and Spirit. When we are willing to meet the needs of others and serve the Gospel daily, we are allowing the humility of Christ to be seen through our lives.
Living It Out
A humble heart that God sees is not merely concerned with how we appear before people. It is a heart that gives God the glory, recognises that everything has been received from Him, acknowledges His providence, and serves others. As we continue to grow in the Gospel of water and Spirit, we should allow this truth to work within us until it is evident in our daily lives.
Let us examine our lives and ask whether we are truly becoming more like Jesus. Are we willing to avail ourselves to God and allow Him to work this humility in us? When the humility that God sees becomes evident among us, it can transform our lives and the life of the church, allowing many others to be drawn to the kingdom of God.
Come be part of our physical church services — we’d love to have you!