Be Humble, or you’ll stumble
New Testament Passage
But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. – Matthew 15:27-28
Discussion Questions
- Using the passage as a guide, what are some differences between humility and self-depreciation? Hint: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less” – Clive Staples Lewis
- “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.” Eccl. 7:5 – What are some practical steps to receiving rebuke constructively?
Old Testament Passage
“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.
So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward.” – 1 Samuel 17:45-47, 18:7-9.
Discussion Questions
- Compare qualities displayed by David and Saul in the passage. What did David have that Saul lacked?
- What are the consequences of not having humility?
- It was once said that as soon as you start thinking you are humble, you have lost it. What practical steps then, can we take to grow and nurture the fruit of humility?