Using Biblical Examples to Teach Humility and Dependence
Biblical narratives and teachings frequently highlight humility and dependence on God as essential virtues, often through the example of Christ and the experiences of various individuals. Jesus Christ himself serves as the ultimate model of humility, demonstrating it through his incarnation, birth, subjection to his parents, and his choice of a humble station in life [1]. He further exemplified humility by becoming a servant, associating with the despised, refusing honors, and even washing his disciples' feet [1]. This self-abasement is central to Christian understanding, as Philippians 2:5-8 describes Christ emptying himself and taking the form of a servant [1].
Humility is presented as necessary for serving God and is a characteristic of saints [2]. Proverbs 15:33 states, "Before honor is humility" [6], and Proverbs 29:23 adds that humility leads to honor [2]. God regards the humble, hears their prayers, and promises to deliver and exalt them [2]. James 4:10 encourages believers to "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up," echoing Luke 14:11 and 18:14 [2]. True humility involves submission to and dependence on God [9].
Dependence on God is often intertwined with self-denial. Christ also set an example of self-denial, as seen in his resistance to temptation in Matthew 4:8-10 and his declaration in John 6:38, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me" [3]. Self-denial is presented as a test of devotion to Christ and is necessary for following him and for spiritual warfare [3]. This includes denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetites, and mortifying sinful desires [3].
Other biblical figures also illustrate these principles. For instance, Nehemiah's account of the people's distress, where they acknowledge their inability to help themselves and the bondage of their children, underscores a situation demanding dependence on divine intervention [7]. The concept of resignation, or submission to God's will, is another facet of dependence, with Christ's prayer in Gethsemane ("not my will, but yours be done") serving as a prime example [4]. This resignation is commanded in passages like Psalm 46:10 ("Be still, and know that I am God") and should be exhibited in submission to God's sovereignty, even in the face of death, loss, or suffering [4].
Diligence, too, is exemplified by Christ and required of believers in seeking God, obeying him, and striving for spiritual growth [5]. This diligence, however, is not a self-reliant effort but is undertaken in dependence on God's grace. The New Testament further emphasizes humility as fitting, considering humanity's state before God's kindness and love intervened [8].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- Proverbs “The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. -- Proverbs 15:33”
- Nehemiah “Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. Neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.” -- Nehemiah 5:5”
- Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:3: 3:3 Humility (3:2) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4; see Eph 2:1-4; 5:8; Col 3:7; 1 Pet 4:3).”
- Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 2:3: 2:3 all who are humble: True humility involves submission to and dependence on God (Pss 18:25-27; 119:142-144; Prov 15:33; 18:12; 22:4).”