To Be Exalted You Must Become Humble
The path to becoming humbled with shame is through self-exaltation. This is what Jesus meant by whoever exalts himself shall be humbled. If we promote our own greatness by way of worldly boasts, we will end up ashamed when Christ appears and inaugurates His kingdom. If we seek to humble ourselves before God and man, we will be exalted in God’s perfecxt timing.
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
matthew 23:12
The path to becoming exalted with glory and greatness is through self-humility. This is what Jesus meant by whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. We are to humble ourselves in the eyes of the world by trusting Jesus and following His example of serving others. This applies especially with those who cannot repay us (Luke 14:12-14). Then we shall be exalted by Christ Himself in the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 3:21).
Life Training offers Christian counseling online and in-person in Louisville, Kentucky.
These counter-intuitive paths are very similar to Jesus’s often repeated paradoxical teaching “For whoever wishes to save his life [“psuche”] will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Matthew 16:25).
Jesus also taught this proverb—Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted—in another setting. He once shared it at a dinner party where He was invited by a Pharisee (Luke 14:7-11) and elaborated upon the practical advice that Solomon taught in Proverbs 25:6-7.
Jesus Modeled Humility For Us To Follow
His teaching in Matthew 23:12 points us to the life of humility He lived on this earth.
Jesus was the greatest. And He came as a servant.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28
Jesus did not come as one who exalts.
“Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.”
Philippianas 2:5=6
Jesus came as one who humbles himself.
“… but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:7-8
Because Jesus did these things, He was exalted by His Father, and given authority over all things.
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11
Jesus taught His disciples how to become the greatest among you through His words and actions. He lived this with His actions. May we too follow His great example. Instead of lording our position of authority over other people, as the world promotes, may we live true greatness by serving them. May we do the work to lift others up, helping them be successful. May we do “our best” to play “our role” to help “the team” succeed.
Life Training offers Christian counseling online and in-person in Louisville, Kentucky.
Humility Requires Dying To Self
Soul health and spiritual maturity cannot be separated. Our counselors are ordained Christian ministers as well as certified and licensed Christian counselors. We are able to help you experience freedom from shame, anxiety, depression, or marriage issues with methods that are purely Christ-centered. Please click on this link to learn much more about how our Christian counseling in Louisville, Kentucky can help you become a more authentic follower of Christ, and help you find freedom from identity dependence.https://lifetrainingcounseling.org/
Life Training offers convenient sessions at our office in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as online counseling via Zoom or FaceTime. Our non-profit counseling practice has had an outstanding track record from over a decade helping men and women, individuals and couples who are ready to move beyond anxiety, depression, and conflicts in marriage or other relationships find hope and healing in their lives. Contact us today at 502-717-5433, or by email at drdave@lifetrainingcounseling.org