Rest for the Weary预览

Humility

The second part of verse 29 shares the second key to genuine rest: humility.

Jesus says, "Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart." There's a lot we can learn from Jesus, but one of the most important things, and the one he finds especially vital, is humility. Look at what Jesus says; he says to learn from him in that he is lowly and humble in heart.

It's no secret that God hates pride; He often talks about it throughout the Old and New Testament.

• Proverbs 8:13, "I hate pride and arrogance."
• Proverbs 16:5, "The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished."
• Proverbs 26:12, "Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them."

It's pretty clear God is not a fan of pride. To contrast pride, Jesus modeled surrender and humility every day on this earth. He never moved or acted outside of the will of the Father. That's the same attitude we must carry with us every day: submission and humility before the Father.

But let's dive in a bit deeper. What exactly is humility? Some people perceive it in a way that diminishes their value. They want to withdraw and hide their gifts. Yet, this isn't humility at all. Here's a great definition to consider:

"Humility isn't thinking less of yourself – it's thinking of yourself less." Rick Warren

In essence, stop thinking about yourself all the time. Practically speaking—because I'm someone that has struggled with pride over the years—whenever I notice "me" thoughts and language popping up, I turn those thoughts and words around to focus on God and other people. 

Are you struggling to put God and others before yourself? When you start having those "me" thoughts, turn those thoughts around, and practice humility. Less focus on yourself leads to greater rest.