Humility Rightly Applied

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MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest author Josiah Pratt to the Tribe.  Josiah hails from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. In mentoring several young men at their church, he’s been challenged by the various truths found in Proverbs that speak to godly manhood.  Welcome Josiah!

Proverbs 16 is a chapter written for the proud. It draws sharp contrasts between humility and pride, righteousness and wickedness. Verse 1 says “humility comes before honour.” How many of us desire to be honoured, respected, admired, or even appreciated?

To be a husband receiving honour feels like the highest affirmation in marriage.  When we are young, we desire and pursue popularity, sports, and intellectual pursuits like acceptance into coveted schools and programs. As we age, the pursuits shift; we have to climb the corporate ladder, buy fancy cars, and big houses. Travel the world. But how much of this is to earn respect, admiration from those around? 

From a young age I wanted to be respected, –to be admired. This manifested in my dedicated pursuits in sports and in my jobs. Trying to climb to the top.  But all of this proved futile. It was established on the foundation of pleasing man and therefore only leads to arrogance and pride. 

Ambition and pursuit are not wron and can be good things. But both must be rooted in humility from the beginning. 

“Commit your work to the Lord.”

Start by living like a Christian and make Christ the cornerstone. No school, job or relationship can corrupt a belliever who is anchored in Him. This will mean you will need to take a stand. Removing yourself from certain friendships, choosing schools or programs that align with Christian principles.  Stepping away from work that contradicts your morals. It means refusing the crowds that follow after sin. 

If you can do this, you will, by the power of Christ, break free from the need to please man. This is a pattern of humility. Then, having laid that foundation, commit yourself to working hard by setting the example.  

Colossians 3:23

 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

To myself, to my future son, to all men; let this verse echo daily.  Do not work for the applause of men but for the applause of God. When no one else is looking, know that God is. Work harder! Do not rest, do not slumber, but give 100% especially when no one is looking, and especially when others stop. In each day, let your work be pleasing to God. 

To my daughter and to godly wives, take this attitude knowing that although caretaking, cleaning, cooking is not honoured by the world, it is to God. Do not labour to please others but to do this to please God; especially when no one is looking and you do not get acknowledgement.

There is immeasurable value in walking with humility before God.

Warrior On!