(The Gift of Humility)

Written by Abby Caymol | Nov 28, 2023

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. –‭Matthew‬ ‭5:11‭-‬12‬ ‭NIV‬

One thing you can not take away from an underdog is his glowing character.

In movies, we often see the protagonist (victim) and the antagonist (villain), but what is it like to be a hero?

In 1 Samuel 17, there is a story of a boy who became a hero because his mighty hero conquered the battle of their armies.

David, a young boy scorned by his blood, was different from his siblings. He was assigned to tend the sheep and mainly was a messenger who took orders from his father and brothers.

One day, one of the Philistines, Goliath from Gath, dared Saul and the armies of Israel to find someone to fight with him, then defied Israel with contempt (1 Samuel 17:8-11).

Have you met someone who provoked anyone to fight? Is someone so sure he will not lose any battle life throws at him? How did you handle the conversation with them?

He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. -‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:42‬ ‭NIV‬

What is true is when you have the Holy Spirit in your heart, people will see the light and glow in you. You don’t need a sprinkle of pixie dust to shine and fly like you see in the movies; you radiate uniquely when you are in the shelter of the most high God.

David’s older brother, Eliab, insulted him, King Saul didn’t trust David’s capabilities to fight in the battle, and Goliath the Philistine ridiculed and cursed him with his gods (1 Samuel 17:28,33&43).

But God didn’t look at David’s physical features or how strong he could fight. God saw David’s love for Him for the Lord does not base His selection on outward appearance, nor does He judge the way people do, but He sees beyond the character and values of a person’s heart.

When David was chosen to fight for Goliath, he did not come to him with a sword, spear, or javelin, but he came against Goliath in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel’s armies (1 Samuel 17:45). God used a sling and stone as an instrument for David to fight Goliath, which was the exact tool David used whenever a lion or a bear came to attack the sheep. The Lord has been with David to rescue him from wild animals and into the hands of this Philistine (1 Samuel 17:37).

Sure enough, and the Lord triumphed in David’s battle. People witnessed God’s power when a young boy defeated the six cubits and a span Goliath. The sling and stone that David used are only symbols, but what David had in his hands are God’s power and grandeur of His perfection to win the battle. David’s victory over the Philistine was made possible by the Lord’s Spirit that came powerfully upon him, and God’s Spirit had been resting on him since then (1 Samuel 16:13b).

David’s humbleness and obedience brought him to the top. In everything he did, whether he tended the sheep or won a battle, he always gave glory to the Lord and not to himself, and because of this, the Lord made David a king in Israel (2 Samuel 5:3b). He became the man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22). 

From then on, it is no longer the sheep David takes care of, but he shepherds the people of Israel (2 Samuel 5:2b).

Being an underdog doesn’t mean you are defeated; it signifies a strong spirit to endure hardships in obstacles and battles.

Humbleness can lead you to the highest places and bring you great success.

Being humble or lowly in spirit will allow you to maintain a steadfast heart and keep moving forward even when faced with deep waters.

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. -‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:23‬ ‭NIV‬

What gives a person a great deal of growth is when he chooses to put his pride aside. Humbleness comes wisdom.

When we think highly of ourselves, falling will be intense. It will be tough to rise again. However, we can find strength and support from the Holy Spirit to help us restore our whole being. 

Self-conceit doesn’t come from the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible teaches us to be humble and to clothe ourselves with compassion and kindness as we are God’s chosen people (Colossians 3:12). 

Humility is a powerful tool in restoring broken relationships. It gives back the joy and peace that was once destroyed.

Blessed are the humble, for God sees the true nature of their heart.