Before Honor is Humility

IF we read the Bible with prayerful attention, we shall find that its biographies are wonderfully instructive. It never sanctions wrong, and never either excuses or hides it. Often, however, it tells the story of men's good deeds, without one word of praise, and of their evil deeds without any censure. But it is to be understood that this book contains the moral law, which every one can use in squaring the actions of men; and it is to be particularly observed that men's actions are given in such a manner that the consequences of good and evil at last appear with wonderful distinctness.

The wisdom of God in training men for honor by leading them through poverty and humiliation is very manifest from the records of their lives.

Saul is an instance of one, who, in private life, was a good man, and yet, when elevated to the throne, became wicked, overbearing, and cruel. He could not bear his high honors. Had he been trained for many years in deep humiliation he would have been a very different king. Solomon is another instance of the inability of man to bear honor without previous training in poverty and sorrow. He came to the throne like the sun showing itself at its meridian height when it first comes in view. That sun was overshadowed in disastrous eclipse, and perhaps set in eclipse also. Let no man ask for honor till humility has prepared him for it.

David is an illustrious instance of training in the school of poverty, humiliation, and sorrow. God suffered him to receive injustice at the hand of Saul that he might learn to hate such wickedness and never act in that way when himself made king. Surely he had a schooling of inestimable value to prepare him for the throne. Yet with all this he had nearly made a fatal plunge when prosperity became his portion. David's case stands as a light-house built near most dangerous rocks. With all his previous training he was well-nigh ruined by what prosperity flowed in upon him. A lowly station in life is far preferable to one of an exalted character, and it is infinitely safer.

Joseph in the providence of God was made lord of Egypt. But he had first to be thrown into the dungeon. He was sold for a servant. His "feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: UNTIL the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom." Ps. 105:17-22.

The wisdom of God is seen in the history of Joseph. He could never have done the work for which he was exalted to that high station, had he not first been made a slave, and then a prisoner in iron in a dungeon.

Before honor is humility. Those who seek honor at the hands of God will spend their lives in the deepest self-abasement before him. Those that humble themselves. God will exalt. Those who exalt themselves he will certainly abase. Those who are exalted by him shall sit down with Christ upon his throne; and those who are abased by him shall suffer shame and everlasting contempt.