“Walk in Humility”
Ephesians 4:1-2
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-3
II. Our Walk in Christ 4-6
A. Walk in Unity
1. Exhortation to walk worthy of our calling 1
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called
Paul's use of "therefore" connects the second half of Ephesians to the first half. The reason for his exhortation to a worthy walk could either be tied to the immediate context or actually to the whole first half of his letter.
If we link it to the whole letter it could look something like this.
Since God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing having been specially chosen, purposefully adopted, freely redeemed and forgiven, spiritually enlightened, surely considered God's inheritance, securely sealed, made alive, raised, and seated with Christ, rescued from alienation and brought near to God as full citizens in his kingdom, beloved children in his family, living stones in his Temple…walk worthy.
Since God is going to do exceedingly beyond all that we could ask or think according to the power that works with in us…walk worthy.
Since God will be glorified in the church; his new community…walk worthy.
Along with great blessing comes great responsibility. May our way of life reflect our wealth of blessing. Paul could have issued a command on the basis of his authority as an apostle.
Rather, Paul encouraged life-change on the basis of their great blessing and on his sacrificial service to them as a prisoner for Christ. Rather than an authoritative command, Paul offered an emotional appeal.
Urge, exhort, comfort, encourage, desire, pray, entreat
Paul appealed to their heart on the basis of his character rather than his credentials. His appeal emerged out of the fact that he was already living a worthy walk and suffering in prison because of it. The term “walk” translates two words, to walk and around or about. It meant to conduct one’s self, order one’s behavior, live one’s life.
He urged them to live a life “worthy of their calling”. “Worthy” means equal weight, worthy, proper, in balance. We get our word “axiom” from this root term.
Greek philosophers considered an axiom as a claim which could be seen to be true without any need for proof.
Paul urges us to live in such a way that no further proof is needed to verify we are true followers of Jesus. Jesus said the world would recognize His disciples by their love for one another. A believer’s behavior should accurately correspond with a believer’s blessing.
Even Jesus said, "He who is forgiven much loves much."
Paul used the word "calling" to refer to the call of Jesus to be full citizens in his kingdom, beloved sons in his family, living stones in his Temple. We have been called as members of God’s new unified community of creatures committed to passionately loving God and each other. A calling is a life purpose, a reason for being, a life vocation. We must never let the wonder of the fact that God called us out of darkness into his glorious light drift very far from the forefront of our thinking. It was one of Paul’s prayer requests in chapter one.
“Realize the Hope of His calling.”
Paul urged these followers of Jesus to live a life consistent with gracious calling of God. He told the Philippians to work out their glorious salvation with fear and trembling. Would we live any differently if all of a sudden we were invited to become CEO for a large prestigious corporation? We have been called to represent the greatest organization ever with equally great resources and privilege and Paul insists that our way of life should reflect the exalted nature of that high and holy calling.
Does how we dress, what we talk about, our activities, our ethics, our mannerisms, how we treat one another reflect our high calling as ambassadors of God’s kingdom? This isn't the only place Paul calls for a life style change that reflects our core change.
10 walk (live) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, Colossians 2:6
12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:12
27 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, Phil 1:27
What kind of life lives up to the glorious calling with which we been called? The rest of Paul's letter actually details what that might look like in everyday life. The bulk of what Paul addresses in the rest of his letter deals with loving relationships. Live a life that reflects the restoration of a divinely established loving community. Just as the Philippians passage above mentions unity and oneness of mind, Paul will focus on loving relationship as the key characteristic of a worthy walk.
He will address living in unity and diversity within this new community.
He will address living in the newness of life that is been provided in Christ.
He will address living in loving relationships.
He will address living in purity in God's new community.
He will address living according to God's wisdom.
He will address living in healthy personal and social relationships.
The chief life-changes of a worthy walk have to do with how we treat one another. John asserted in his letter that a life without love for one another is not really a changed life at all.
Paul mentioned a few of the essential character traits of those in God’s unified community.
Those mentioned here are not by any means exhaustive; he will add more later. Those mentioned here are similar to those listed in other places in the New Testament. I was going to plow on through these virtues but I have felt led by God to take some time for sufficient reflection and introspection.
2. Characteristics of unity 2-3
Walk worthy of you calling by…
“walking with all humility”
The term “humility” comes from the merging of two words.
“tapeinos” Humble, low degree, base cast down
“phren” mind, understanding, thinking
The resulting word calls attention to the practice of thinking humbly about one’s self. This is “low” or humble thinking as opposed to “high” or proud thinking. This doesn’t have to do with disengaging your brain but rightly directing your brain. This is not a worthless worm mentality but a servant mentality. It is the ability to see ourselves accurately as God sees us; dependent creatures. Since self-centered thinking is at the core of most all relational chaos, humility stands high on God’s “must have” list. In fact, God vigorously resists the proud but eagerly imparts enabling power (grace) to the humble. (James 4:6)
This and the next trait were characteristic of Jesus’ life on earth. He invites us to learn from His example.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. Matthew 11:29
Perhaps the secret to rest for our souls lies in the development of a gentle and humble heart.
Observe how Jesus treated people even though in reality He ranked light years above them.
He was not too “high minded” to wash His disciples feet.
He was “not too good” to minister to children, the poor, lepers, the outcast and downcast.
He did not operate according to His own agenda but that of His Father.
He was not out to build His own kingdom but God’s.
He did not intentionally draw attention to Himself or try to put on a “Jesus show.”
He did not exalt Himself but humbled Himself and the Father exalted.
He rebuked the disciples for jockeying for recognition and position among themselves.
An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great." Luke 9:46-48
We live in a culture of pride, self-centeredness and self-promotion. It is rare to find truly humble minded people; people willing to honestly put others before themselves. We are even counseled to put ourselves first because “I’m worth it!” Lack of this virtue (pride) has been the root of much relational devastation all through human history stretching from marital woes to world wars.
James clearly affirmed this.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:14-16
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:1-3
Most of our struggle with anger boils down to a pride issue. Someone deters our agenda or disrupts our comfort. The concept of “humble minded” was considered a demeaning state even in Greek times. It always connoted cringing servility, cowering slavishness. Jesus introduced humility as a crown jewel in the Christian’s crown. Not only did He model it, but He mandated it all through the New Testament.
3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:2-8
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:3
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Romans 12:16
And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; Acts 20:18-19
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13 (Note: for of these also appear in our present passage.)
If you combine the content of just these verses you find a powerful profile of humility.
Humility of mind has to do with not thinking more highly of our selves.
Humility of mind has to do with having sound judgment.
Humility of mind has to do with realizing God gifts everyone differently.
Humility of mind has to do with associating with the lowly.
Humility of mind has to do with not being conceited.
Humility of mind has to do with counting other more important than ourselves.
Humility of mind has to do with a concern about other’s interest over our own.
Humility of mind has to do with serving others even when it hurts.
Humility has to do with putting our trust in a faithful God.
Humility has to do with taking time to remember God’s provision of salvation. (Lev 16:31)
The discussion of humility and its opposite pride occupies considerable Biblical terrain.
Humility always precedes exaltation as pride precedes a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. Proverbs 16:18
The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility. Proverbs 15:33
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor. Proverbs 18:12
The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life. Proverbs 22:4
A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 29:23
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7
God loves to hang out in a humble heart but resists a proud heart.
Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:1-2
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 1 Pet 5
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:6-8
Humility facilitates soul transformation by the word.
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
Humility comes as a natural result of right thinking.
First I must have right thinking concerning my relationship with God; one of submission.
Second I must maintain right thinking concerning my relationship with people.
I am out for God’s glory not mine.
I submit to God’s agenda
I have nothing of significance that God did not give me in the first place.
God exalted Jesus because He humbled Himself and didn’t pursue His personal glory.
My goal is to build the body not bolster my ego.
I am most like Christ when I am serving others rather than myself.
I have nothing to prove.
My worth is not dependent on the affirmation or cooperation of others
My worth is solely dependent on who I am due to my connection to Jesus Christ.
I do not have to compete with others to acquire or maintain my personal worth.
My reputation and exaltation are in God’s hand.
We work for the same Lord.
We need each other.
My personal agenda is not worth breaking fellowship and dishonoring the cause of Christ?
Application
• Admit pride and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.
• Renew thinking.
• Decide to put other before ourselves.
