Humble Pie

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Have you ever heard the expression “humble pie?” To eat it means, to apologize and face the humiliation for a serious error. It evolved from a French word, nomble, which means, deer innards. Centuries ago, those in extreme poverty would literally make a “pie like” dinner filled with a deer’s innards—the leftovers after all the meat had been stripped from the animal by the wealthy. But I digress! 

When speaking about humility in sermons, I’ve tried to take the edge off the sobriety of the subject by saying, “If you want get the upper hand on humility, then read my book, YOU, TOO, CAN BE HUMBLE!” Or, “Humility; the minute you think you’ve got it...you’ve lost it!” But all joking aside, humility is a serious problem, especially in light of Paul’s admonition that Christ followers “Be completely humble...” [Ephesians 4:2a - NIV] 

Where do we begin? How do we start the process of driving pride from our lives and living with a humble spirit?

One thing we can do is to look at ourselves honestly. Sometimes, we disguise who we are and try to convince ourselves, and others, how good and wonderful we are. The apostle Paul didn’t see himself that way. He referred to himself as the foremost sinner [1 Timothy 1:15], and that he had not yet achieved his goal of Christlikeness [Philippians 3:12-14]. So whenever you’re tempted to be proud, remember you haven’t arrived yet spiritually.

One more thing, don’t fall into the trap of comparison with others. Listen to Paul’s warning to the Christ followers in Corinth: 

I don’t dare to compare myself with those who praise themselves. I’m not that kind of person. They measure themselves by themselves. They compare themselves with themselves. When they do that, they are not wise. 1 Corinthians 10:12 - NIRV

Humility starts when we rid ourselves of self-love, and recognize we are unworthy sinners. 

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5