humility – Three Minute Bible

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025

Colossians 3:12e – Something to Remember

AI Picture of Moses in four stages of life - as a baby in a basket, as a young man, as a shepherd, and with the burning bush.

…[clothe yourselves with] … humility …

Summary: In the grand scheme of things, understanding a word like “humility” requires us to have an understanding of how we measure our own self-importance.

When I think of humility, I always think of Moses. The Bible says that Moses was “a very humble man.” It goes on to say that he was “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Number 12:3).

At first glance, that statement sounds oxymoronic.

We assume the first five books of the Bible are written by Moses, so how could he claim to be “more humble than anyone else” and still be humble?

January 21, 2025January 21, 2025

Colossians 2:23c – Two Different Things

[Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with] … their false humility …

Summary: Three little words set us to wonder about the ways some people try to manipulate the beliefs of others.

Why would Paul rail against false humility?

Let’s take a second look at his sentence structure. He wants us to know the “appearance of wisdom” is created by things like “self-imposed worship” and “false humility.”

On its own, false humility is offensive. For one thing, it is pretentious. The fact that it is “false” humility means it is not real.

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025

Colossians 2:18a – True or False?

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility …

the arrogant pharisee and the humble tax collector in Luke 18:9-14

Summary: Paul’s warning about people who “delight” in “false humility” sounds rather general but is actually quite specific.

It is nice of Paul to warn us against people who “delight” in “false humility,” but how do we know who that is? In short, who is Paul talking about?

In Paul’s day, the church was a new thing. People had the Old Testament writings for reference, but the New Testament was still being written. The Gospel message about believing in Jesus was spreading fast. Unfortunately, there were a lot of people who tried to add their own rules to the Gospel.

The problem facing the Colossians in Paul’s day still faces us today: How do we tell who is speaking the truth?

December 7, 2024December 8, 2024

Colossians 2:5b – Pleasing Jesus

… and delight to see how disciplined you are …

Summary: Words often can be used in more than one way. The word “discipline” is one of those words. Paul is not thinking of external discipline, but the kind that flows naturally from a loving heart.

One definition of the word “disciplined” might be “Doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.” That is a rather gentle definition and one that Paul might have liked. Another definition he might have liked is that being disciplined is like “knowing your place.”

When people of faith are disciplined, they work together without complaint. Each person is content, knowing that they are part of the body of Christ, and following the Spirit’s lead. The “feet” do not wish they were a “hand,” and the “hands” do not complain because they are not “eyes” (1 Corinthians 12:12-26).

August 14, 2024August 14, 2024

Galatians 6:4a – The Test

Each one should test their own actions.

Summary: The Bible challenges us to look in the mirror and take the log out of our own eye (Matthew 7:3). Paul applies the challenge in a slightly different way and asks us the question, “Who do we think we are?”

June 13, 2023June 14, 2023

Ephesians 4:2a – Horse and Rider

Be completely humble and gentle;

Summary: To be humble and gentle is asking a lot. Paul is really asking us to step outside of our emotional selves and take control. Fortunately, he also prays that God gives us the power to do just that.

January 3, 2023January 3, 2023

Leviticus 6:7 – At One

In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.

Summary: Looking back over the Old Testament, we see the foundation for the New.

August 29, 2020August 29, 2020

1 Peter 3:8 (e) — The Humble Centurion

… and [be] humble.

Summary: Peter tells us to be humble. Paul tells us that humility is putting the interests of others first.

December 24, 2019December 25, 2019

Santa’s List – James 1: 10-11

But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

James’ letter is a lot like Santa’s List. Most of us have heard about Santa Clause, and how, like God, he knows if we have been “naughty” or “nice.” The modern legend of Santa goes back to a real-life believer in God, a man whom we know as Saint Nicholas.

Like St. Nick, James is concerned about how people behave toward each other and whether or not having material possessions is clouding their judgment. Why would this be a problem for the early church?