Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 18:12, The Virtue Nobody Wants

by Marilynn Chadwick

“Humility comes before honor.”

Proverbs 18:12

If you want to be strong, be humble. Strength comes through humility. The Bible consistently reminds us of this paradox. As believers, we are called to be servants. To give up our rights and die to self. I’m reminded of Paul’s realization that only when he was "weak" was he truly "strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

We hear a lot about humility, but it seems to be the virtue nobody really wants. We admire it when we see it in others. But it’s so against our nature to walk in humility that most of us run the other way. I once read a quote that said something like this: “Truly great people are also the humblest. Arrogance is the consolation prize for the less talented.” I’ve found this to be true. The most outstanding and honorable people I’ve met are also humble.

Bottom line? If I truly want to be strong in the Lord, I must also be humble. So let’s reflect on the delicate balance in the Bible between strength and humility.

The Bible is clear about the connection between humility and honor. “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up,” comes the strong admonition in James 4:10 (KJV). Humbling ourselves literally means "to be made low." Another Bible version adds weight to this promise: “He will lift you up and make your lives significant” (James 4:10 AMP).

A friend of mine who has always appeared to be quite confident expressed his understanding of humility this way: “Without Christ, I am an incredibly insecure person, and so I stick close to him.” Isn’t that what humility really is? Apart from Christ, I’m weak, and I know it. So I’m going to make a point of sticking close to him.

Sticking close to Jesus is called “abiding.” Jesus himself made it clear that abiding in him is the secret to strength. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 ESV).

If you want to be strong, be humble. More importantly, learn to abide in Christ.