The Attitude of a Mature Believer Includes Humility

"There is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility."    -Benjamin Franklin, from his autobiography.

One of the greatest stumbling blocks in the Christian life is pride. Pride keeps us from admitting that we have a need. Pride prevents us from receiving God’s best. Pride keeps us from experiencing what God desires for us in our lives.

Paul had learned both the destructive power of pride and the constructive value of humility. As a result, he had adopted a humble mentality. He talks to these inexperienced Roman Christians about being mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

Here was the great apostle, who had accomplished many mighty works in the name of Jesus Christ, telling these young Christians that he needed them. He not only wanted to give some spiritual gift to them, he declared that he needed to receive from them out of their storehouse of faith. Paul was humble.

When we find ourselves in the frame of mind which leads us to believe that no one can teach us anything, we are in a very dangerous position. In fact, we are deluded. We are very much like those Christians Paul described in the church in Corinth.

They had divided into various groups based on the teaching of the teacher they were partial to, rejecting the others. Some were following Paul, others Apollos, still others Cephas (or Peter), and finally, some claimed they followed Christ.

What some fail to understand, however, is that all of those groups were wrong. Not only were those wrong who claimed to follow the human teachers, but so was the group who claimed to follow Christ.

You see, they were all claiming that their way was right. They were all puffed up in the pride of their position. Paul pointed out to them the error of their divisive spirit. Pride has no place in the body of Christ. Christ is not divided. When we are, we are not walking in humility.

We must be willing to hear Christ speak to us through whomever He chooses. The youngest believer in Christ can be an instrument through whom Christ speaks. The newest believer might be the one whom Jesus speaks through. We all can learn from one another.

In fact, we must learn from one another. This is how we grow in our faith. And it is through a humble spirit that we will be always open to receive from one another. This is the kind of attitude Paul maintained. This is the kind of attitude that is a mark of maturity for the believer.

Scripture: Proverbs 28:11; Jeremiah 13:17; 1 Corinthians 4:6-8; Luke 1:52; 2 Timothy 3:4; Job 37:24; Psalm 138:6

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Grant me the wisdom to understand that if I want change in my life I must first look to myself. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Raygan