Humility - The First Step To Happiness
What would it take to make you happy? This question was asked of 52,000 Americans in Psychology Today. These were the answers:
Friends and social life
Having a good job
Being in love
Recognition and success
Sex
Personal growth
Good financial situation
Having a nice home or apartment
Being attractive and beautiful
Being married
The interesting thing about this survey is that most of the attempts to find happiness are through external situations.
There is a popular idea that when circumstances are right – I’ll be happy. This is known as – when/then thinking. It goes something like this:
“When I get married then I’ll be happy.”
“When I loose twenty pounds then I’ll be happy.”
“When I win the lottery then I’ll be happy.”
The popular idea of happiness is that if you have the right set of circumstances you will be happy. My question is – “Is it possible to be happy – even if the circumstances are not perfect?” The Bible teaches us that:
Happiness is not based on circumstances - it is based on ATTITUDE.
In the gospel of Matthew chapter five we have what is known as the “Beatitudes”. Follow along with me as I read the beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:3-12 (NKJV)
Each of these beatitudes begins with the word “blessed”. “Blessed” can also mean “Happy”. In other words every time you see blessed in this passage you could substitute the word “Happy”. Today we are going to focus in on verse three:
“Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3 (BBE)
Over the next nine weeks we will be looking at the beatitudes.
This verse sounds like a contradiction doesn’t it? Happy are the poor… Being poor does not sound like there would be much happiness – does it? But being rich may not bring happiness either. Jesus is teaching that true happiness is not based on external circumstances but on an internal attitude – a “BE” attitude. In other words, your happiness should not depend on the right circumstances – but on your right attitude. Circumstances can change. Circumstances WILL change. But if we have the right attitude – we can be happy no matter what the circumstances are. Here is a fact:
FACT:
Happiness is a CHOICE.
Happiness depends on choosing the right ATTITUDE.
Let’s look at our focal verse again.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Let me tell you briefly what it does NOT mean. It does not mean that I have no value. It does not mean that I need to have low self esteem. It does not mean that I need to put myself down. Jesus did not die for junk – He died for people. You have value, you have worth, you have purpose, you have significance. That does not mean that you are perfect – you’re not. You’re human just like the rest of us. We all have sinned – yet we have value.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? It simply means we need to have an attitude of humility. When it comes to our relationship with God we are all on the same playing field. We all depend on Him for our salvation.
Poor in spirit = HUMILITY
Humility is not thinking less of yourself – it is thinking of yourself LESS.
Humility is admitting that you don’t have it all together. Humility is admitting that you don’t know it all. Humility is realizing that the universe does not revolve around me. Humility is admitting to God that you need His help.
This morning we are going to look at three benefits of humility.
Benefit one:
1. Humility reduces STRESS.
When I know that I don’t have all the answers a great burden is lifted off my shoulders.
I can remember when I was new to the ministry someone asked me if I could give them five verses of scriptures about love. I said, “Sure” – and then I was silent. The person waited for me to give them the five verses about love right then. Finally the person asked, “Well, aren’t you going to give me the five verses?” I said, “Sure, give me a concordance.” The person looked shocked and said, “Well, I thought that you being in the ministry and all - that you could give them to me right off the top of your head.” I laughed and said, "It’s better to use the tools that are out there then to rely on my memory."
Folks I am not a walking concordance. I know a lot more verses of scripture than I did back then – but I still don’t know them all. I continue to study – I continue to learn. I still rely on the tools that any one of you could use. If you don’t know something about the Bible - admit it and look it up. Admitting that we don’t know it all – being humble – reduces a lot of stress in our life.
You don’t have to solve all the problems in the world. You can’t solve all the problems in the world. You don’t have to fake the fact that you don’t have all the answers. I don’t have all the answers. But I can point you to the One who does. I am not perfect – but I can tell you about One who is. I don’t have to play God – but I can show you the way to God. In a real way I am a guide to Jesus - so are you.
A friend of mine once said to me, “You know Tom – you are a good preacher. In fact you are a great preacher." (I don’t know if this is true but he sure made me feel good. He sure encouraged me.) He went on to ask, "How do you keep from getting a big head?” Do you know what my answer was? I said, “You know – at my house I still have to take the garbage out.” Folks, whatever your job - you are still human. You still are not perfect. There is only one who is – and you’re not Him.
We here in America have a proverb – I don’t know if it is used worldwide. It goes something like this – “He still puts his pants on - one leg at a time.” When we are talking about those in leadership positions – when we are talking about those who are famous – when we are even talking about the President of The United States sometimes we will say – “He still puts his pants on - one leg at a time.” I still put my pants on - one leg at a time - so do you. That is a proverb about humility.
I think there are times we take ourselves too serious and we don’t take God seriously enough. We are trying to impress people and that leads to stress. When I humble myself – when I admit my dependence upon God – it reduces the stress in life. When my stress goes down and my happiness goes up.
“Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
The second benefit of humility is:
2. Humility improves RELATIONSHIPS.
How many of you love to be around people with big heads? How many of you like being around people who brag and boast about themselves all the time? How many of you like being around people who are full of themselves? Prideful people are a pain in the "blessed assurance". They are an irritation. They are self centered and they are never happy. Never happy! All they do is make others around them unhappy. Many times they build themselves up by cutting others down.
On the other hand how many of you like being around humble people? They don’t put on “airs” to impress you. When you tell them a story they don’t have to “one up you.” They are honest and open – they may even tell you funny stories of mistakes that they have made in their lives. (Such as preaching with their fly unzipped. That happened back when I would preach sermons from behind the pulpit - quite some time ago. I sure am thankful for pulpits. If you had been there I’m sure you would have been thankful for pulpits too.)
Folks we’re all human - we all make mistakes. Humility doesn’t mean we think less of yourself, you just think more about others.
When you become interested in others – you become interesting to OTHERS.
Your relationships improve when you become humble. You don’t have to be right all the time – you don’t have to have all the answers. It becomes easier to say, “I’m sorry.” “I was wrong.” "I messed up."
Humility changes things. Humility changes relationships. It changes our relationships with one another but it also changes our relationship with God. Look at this verse from Second Chronicles with me:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
This verse tells us that there are four steps that improve a relationship with God – they are:
A. Humble ourselves.
B. Pray.
C. Seek God’s face.
D. Stop sinning (turn from our wicked ways).
When we do these four things our relationship with God improves. Notice that the first step in Second Chronicles is to humble ourselves. Humility improves relationships and helps bring happiness.
Our third point today is:
3. Humility releases God’s POWER.
Look at James chapter four with me:
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (HCSB)
Would you like to feel God’s strength in your life? The Bible says that God gives “grace to the humble.” The Bible says that spiritual power is given to those who walk humbly before the Lord. God gives strength to those who realize that they need to depend on Him.
Folks when I consider the majesty and mystery of God I am in awe. When I consider that God has taken me – even me – and placed me here as your pastor – I am humbled. I’m not the most intelligent person in this congregation. Some of you have more insight and wisdom than I have. Yet God has placed me here for a purpose.
Sometimes I act a little impulsively – without thinking things through. Sometimes I wait too long when I should have jumped in. Sometimes I open my mouth and insert my foot and get myself in trouble because of it. Sometimes I feel so inadequate. Sometimes I feel so ill prepared. Sometimes situations seem overwhelming. It’s at times like that when I pray to God and ask Him for wisdom and strength.
I humble myself before Him and He strengths me. I have to realize that I am where I am - not because of who I am – but because God is who He is. I am strengthened – not because I am strong - not because I am a great guy – but because I have a Great God. I think that is what Paul was talking about when he said:
“Jesus said to me, ’My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (HCSB)
God’s strength in perfected in weakness. You have often heard it said – "God helps those who can help themselves." This is not a true statement. The truth is: "God helps those who realize they can’t help themselves." He expects us to do our best - but He also expects us to rely on His strength. When we admit we need Him - He steps in. It takes a humble person to admit their weaknesses.
Is there any area of your life you’re trying to get control of and it’s just not working? Have you humbled yourself in that area? Have you admitted to God that you just don’t know how to fix it? Tell God that it’s just not working – and that you don’t know what to do next. Humble yourself before Him. You don’t have all the answers – you’re not supposed to. You are supposed to come to Him humbly - admit your weakness - ask Him for help.
You see humility brings about strength. Humility brings about power. Humility brings about happiness – because God provides for you - what you cannot provide for yourself. "God gives grace to the humble." Is it any wonder that:
“Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3 (BBE)
(Thanks to Rick Warren for sermon starter idea.)
