Humility is a necessary part of the Christian life and it is a prerequisite for God to truly use us. In fact, it is impossible for us to reach our full potential in Christ without it. And God will test us to expose what’s inside of us. The higher we go in God and the more influence God entrusts us with, the more of us, meaning our fleshly nature and carnal reasoning, has to die and stay dead.

Jesus is our ultimate example. The Bible says, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor…” (Philippians 2:5-9a NLT).

Jesus surrendered all of His divine rights as God and humbled Himself by becoming human. Most of His own creation didn’t even recognize Him. And sadly, they criticized Him, were jealous of Him, spoke lies about Him and eventually crucified Him. Even when Jesus faced his persecutors at the end of His life on earth, He said nothing. He didn’t try to prove His innocence or try to get even. Instead, He entrusted Himself to His Heavenly Father and surrendered to God the Father’s plan, which was to die for sinners. It was the ultimate sacrifice. And it was because of His humility that God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the highest position and place of honor seated at the right hand of God the Father.

One time during Jesus’ earthly ministry, James and John’s mother asked Him if her sons could sit at His right and left in the Kingdom of Heaven. When the other disciples heard about this, they became indignant and all of them started arguing. This is what happened next. “But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man (Jesus) came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28 NLT).

As Believers in Christ, we are to act differently than the world. We are to take on the nature of a servant and operate in humility. The Bible says, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24 NIV). We must come to an end of ourselves of trying and striving to make things happen in our own strength, proving our innocence, demanding our way, being “right” about everything, getting even, pulling others down to get to the top or remaining offended and bitter because of what someone has done to us. All of these character traits are carnal and come from a place of pride, self-reliance, selfishness or hurt instead of a position of trusting God. We must die to our carnal ways and learn to be led by God, doing life His way if we are going to experience God’s best and fulfill our purpose on earth. When we humble ourselves, God can go to work.

Just over 10 years ago, I was working for a reputable landscape architecture company on the North side of Atlanta. Life was great. I had my own home, a nice car and I was in leadership in an awesome church. Then the 2008 economy collapse happened. My industry was severely affected, so much so, that we started having pay cuts and then more pay cuts. Eventually employees were laid off. My number was eventually called. I tried finding work in this very specialized field, but there weren’t any jobs available. None. I looked coast to coast. Fear began to grip me.

What am I going to do? How am I going to survive? I thought to myself.

In time I found a job, but it was making half of what I used to make. It wasn’t enough to pay my bills, not even close. I couldn’t sell my house or my car either. Long story short, I lost everything, literally everything. It was a very difficult season.

I remember the day I put all of my furniture out on my drive way and had to just give it away. Then I moved home to my Dad and step-mom’s basement for the first time in approximately 11 years. If that wasn’t challenging enough, I lived in their basement for two years without a vehicle. You heard that right, two years without a car!! My pride was hurt. I had always been good with my money and prided myself in it. I had saved, I tried to make wise financial decisions and I gave faithfully to God. But no matter what advice I received from good, well-meaning people, I sunk further into this financial nightmare.

To make matters worse, I had a good friend of mine call me up, “Cory”, he said with a critical, judgmental spirit, “Are you in sin? Why would all these things befall you if you weren’t?”

I remember thinking to myself in a moment of silence, What is he talking about? Where is his compassion? Where is his empathy and understanding? I was frustrated and angry by his lack of care and understanding.

After I got off the phone with him, I got on my knees and cried out to God, “Lord, I don’t know why I have fallen on hard times. To the best of my ability, I’ve tried to honor you with my entire life, including my finances. What is going on? Help!”

The Holy Spirit spoke to me through a scripture in the book of Job, “But if I go to the east, He is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find Him. When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. But he knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:8-10 NIV). Job had friends that judged, criticized and found fault with him, but they were inaccurate in their assessment of why he was in this difficult trial. God comforted me with these verses and deep on the inside, I felt God whispering to me, “Cory, quit trying to figure out why you are in this trial and trust me! I’m in this.” The labels my critics and the Enemy – the accuser of the brethren, placed on me were removed in that moment. I began trusting God by faith instead of trying to figure everything out in my own finite mind.

God had a plan and it was bigger than me, much bigger! It was through this financial collapse that I found out I had a gift to write and eventually started writing for a Christian newspaper company. It was here that I learned about the incredible work of Destiny Rescue – an international Christian based nonprofit that’s dedicated to rescuing and restoring children from sexual slavery. As I learned more, I knew I had to do something and eventually started working for them. Little did I know that God was working behind the scenes through that challenging season. You see, through my personal financial collapse, God was removing prejudices and a critical spirit I had toward others struggling financially. I used to think there was a one-size-fits-all solution toward people’s monetary woes. Just get a job at McDonald’s, I would think to myself. As if that was the answer for everyone. How arrogant and self-righteous I was in my own heart! God used my personal financial collapse to remove destructive ways of thinking that would keep me from helping struggling people. You see, Destiny Rescue helps impoverished families that wrestle with making difficult decisions because of the pressure they are under. Without compassion or empathy, it would be easy to judge the reasons why they make some of the decisions they make. But because I went through my own season of difficulty, it developed in me a heart of compassion. I now look through a different lens – one of mercy, understanding and from a place of humility.

God took me through this trial, not to destroy me, but to prepare me for what I am doing today. “…humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12b). I had to die to what others thought of me. I had to die to wrong mindsets that would ultimately keep me from experiencing God’s best, which was to help impoverished families find hope and a hand up in life!

The Bible says, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24 NIV). What is it that God is asking you to die to? Is it caring what others think of you? Is it your reputation? Is it the labels others have tried placing on you? Is it offense or a root of bitterness that has taken root in you? God is refining you and He’s developing humility deep on the inside so He can use you for great purposes.

You are closer to your breakthrough than you think. You are closer to promotion than you think. Humility comes before honor, so allow God to do a deep work in you so that, in due season, God can exalt you. Don’t give up in the process. You are dying so you can truly live!

Questions to consider:

  • Why is humility so important to God?What can we learn from Jesus’ life of being a servant that is so different from the way the world’s system operates?
  • Humility comes before honor. Is there anything God is asking you to die to so He can promote you in His perfect time?
  • If so, what is it and how can you let go and trust God to bring forth His plan for your life?
  • What are you learning in this season of dying to yourself?