We had a great discussion on Humility last night at our cell group. Adam, the leader had learnt an important lesson that day, and it was great to hear his thoughts, and God's (through The Bible) on the subject. Humility is so difficult to define however. I've just found a very moving poem called "Paradoxes" on a blog called Challies.com which has an almost Psalmic quality about it. This helped direct me a little closer to understanding what "Humility" is and I hope will be useful to others too. It's challenging and convicting, yet ultimately assuring of God's Love and Grace to us.
Humility
a prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22).Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory."
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary, Courtesy of BibleGateway.com
