Principle
Lessons on Humility
God is great; we don't need to make ourselves great.
9 lessons
In the BeginningThe Tower of BabelGenesis 11:1-9; Genesis 12:1-3People tried to make themselves great without God, but God brought their tower down and began His own plan to bless every nation.Old TestamentHumility
With Building BricksGideon’s 300: HumilityJudges 7:1-22; James 4:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7The Midianites had a huge army, like a swarm of locusts. God chose Gideon to save Israel. Gideon gathered 32,000 men. But God said, "You have too many! Israel might brag that they saved themselves." So God sent men home until only 300 were left. One night, God let Gideon sneak down to the enemy camp. He heard a soldier tell a dream. A loaf of barley bread rolled into the camp and knocked a tent flat! The soldier said it meant God would give Gideon the victory. Gideon worshiped God. With trumpets, jars and torches, the 300 shouted, and God made the enemy run. Humility means knowing God is great and giving Him the glory.Old TestamentHumility
Kings and ProphetsGod Chooses David1 Samuel 16:1-13God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, and instead of the tall older brothers, God chose David, the youngest shepherd, because the LORD looks at the heart.Old TestamentHumility
Kings and ProphetsNaaman Is Healed2 Kings 5:1-19Naaman, a proud army commander with a serious skin disease, was healed when he humbly obeyed God and washed seven times in the muddy Jordan River.Old TestamentHumility
With NatureWhere Were You? God Answers Job from the StormJob 38:1-41; Job 39:1-30; Job 42:1-6, 10; Job 1:1-22Job lost almost everything and asked God, "Why?" God answered from a storm, not with an explanation, but by showing Job His power and care in creation, from the stars to the snow to the baby ravens. Job humbly trusted God, because God was bigger than his questions.Old TestamentHumility
The Writing on the WallDaniel 5:1-31King Belshazzar of Babylon threw a huge party. He drank from the gold cups taken from God's temple and praised idols. Suddenly, the fingers of a hand appeared and wrote on the wall! No one could read it, until old Daniel came. Daniel said, "You knew how God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar, but you did not humble yourself." The words meant God had ended the king's rule. That very night, Babylon fell. God is the true King, and He wants us to walk humbly with Him.Old TestamentHumility
Make Way for Jesus: John the BaptistMark 1:1-8; John 1:19-34; John 3:26-30God sent John the Baptist to get people ready for Jesus. John lived in the wilderness, wore camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey. Crowds came to hear him, and people turned from their sins and were baptized. Leaders asked, "Who are you? Are you the Christ?" John said, "No. I'm just a voice getting the way ready. I'm not even worthy to untie His sandals." When Jesus came, John pointed and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" Later he said, "He must increase; I must decrease." Humility means making much of Jesus, not of ourselves.New TestamentHumility
My Soul Magnifies the Lord: Mary Visits ElizabethLuke 1:39-56; 1 Samuel 2:1-10After the angel visited Mary, she hurried to the hill country to see her relative Elizabeth, who was going to have a baby in her old age. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby jumped for joy, and the Holy Spirit filled her. "Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" she said. Then Mary sang a song of praise – "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!" – because God had looked on her humble state and was keeping His promise to send a Savior. God lifts up the humble, and humble hearts praise Him.New TestamentHumility
Just Say the Word: The Centurion’s ServantLuke 7:1-10A Roman army officer in Capernaum had a servant who was very sick. The town leaders told Jesus, "This man is worthy of Your help." But the officer sent word, "I am not worthy for You to come to my house. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus was amazed at his faith, and the servant was healed. When we come to Jesus humbly, we can trust His powerful word.New TestamentHumility