He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way. (ESV)

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. (NIV)

He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. (NLT)

Theme Intro:

This powerful verse kicks off our series on Humility and Gentleness. Over the next four weeks, we will learn what it looks like to find freedom from anxiety through sincere Gospel-humility, allow Christ to increase all the more, be led into humility and righteousness, and, finally, how to live in harmony with one another in all circumstances.

Dive Deeper:

A Business Decision

Two people are up for a promotion. One expects it and one doesn’t. One can’t be taught, and the other desires to learn and grow. One bulldozes over others to get what they want, and the other honors and collaborates with coworkers. One can’t take criticism; the other welcomes it. One sees things a specific way; the other is open to possibilities. Now, if you were a boss, who would you want to promote? Who would you like to lead, coach, and shepherd? Who would you be excited to leave the business to someday? As you heard more and more the answer became obvious, didn’t it? The second person should get promoted over the first, just as Dan Rockwell says, “Arrogance demands and expects. Humility receives and enjoys.” 

“I Know Best”

We live in a culture of demands and expectations that teaches us to learn our way, hold onto our way, and take what's ours. We live in a culture that often uplifts the self-reliant and celebrates the one who has it “figured out.” To boil it down: we hold high the claim: I know best. And that can work for a little while…right up until it doesn’t. Sooner or later we realize that we can’t survive this world solely on “I know best.” Life is too complicated and we are extremely limited. Sooner or later we have to be led. And we can either learn to be led by choice or life will make us be led by force. Here’s the truth: even now, we are all being led by something.

Look Up

C.S. Lewis makes this bold claim, “As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people, and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” If we are to know God, we have to see God. And if we are to see God, we have to look up above ourselves. This is the starting place of humility. This is where Psalm 25:9 says we can be led and taught. If we want to follow Jesus as the Good Shepherd in a culture of “I know best,” we have to reorient every instinct within us that is self-sufficient. We have to place ourselves at our Teacher’s feet and take His yoke upon us. Until we reach this place of humility within ourselves, we won’t be able to look up and see His way. 

Jesus warns us that many will be proud and righteous in their own eyes. Many will disregard His loving words calling us to His path. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). In the quest for the good life, we are pulled in every way to decide for ourselves what will make us happy, successful, and powerful. But if we want to be “promoted” or used greatly by God, we must learn the art of humility. God is eagerly waiting to teach the humble. He isn’t holding back. The reward of humility is to be led by the One who freely teaches the way of abundant life.

Written by Ben Hesch

Challenge:

Imagine your life in buckets: school, work, family, friendships, significant other, finances, etc. In which buckets do you most include God for direction and help? In which buckets do you feel self-sufficient and don’t often include God in? Zoom in on those areas and consider how you could partner with God to teach you His way.