JANUARY 22, 2010

THE VIRTUE OF VIRTUES

Scripture Reading--Judges 8:22-23

"Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou,

and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the

hand of Midian. And Gideon said unto them,

I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you:

the Lord shall rule over you."

God used Gideon to deliver the nation. Afterwards, his countrymen wanted to make him king. They were ready to declare Gideon and his descendants the royal family, but Gideon remembered where he'd been when the Lord called him--threshing wheat by the winepress. He was hiding because he was afraid his wheat would be stolen. He recognized that God's hand had brought them the victory. Without hesitation, Gideon declined the offer to rule. He remained meek and gave God the glory.

John Bunyan penned the following words:

He that is down, need fear no fall;

He that is low no pride;

He that is humble ever shall

Have God to be his guide.

Humility is a foundational virtue, a platform from which other good qualities may be built. A humble man receives the desire and power to do right--"[ God ] giveth grace to the humble" ( 1 Pet. 5:5b ). As a small seed is capable of producing much fruit, humility is the beginning point for countless graces. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit [ lowly attitude ]." The gateway to spiritual prosperity is a humble spirit.

In addition to giving birth to other virtues, humility is a shield to vice. The humble heart is protected from many snares. "Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility," Jonathan Edwards said. Pride is the oldest, deadliest sin in the world.

POINTS TO PONDER: How many Bible verses about humility can you list? What do these verses teach us about humility?

--Harold Vaughan--

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN " 1 " YEAR: Job cc. 22-24