Humble in God's Sight

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."

Galatians 6:14-15

Being born again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is the one way to be righteous in God's sight.  Though the Gentile believers in the church in Galatia once knew this, they caved to the influence of pressure exerted from Jewish legalists to keep the Law of Moses as a means of righteousness.  What appeared to be submission and humility before God and His Law was in reality the strivings of the flesh to accomplish what only the Spirit of God could do.  People began to pride themselves in their sacrifices and looked down on others who did not follow their legalistic convictions.  Circumcision did not make anyone closer to God, and ironically taking pride in subjection to the rite did the opposite.

My son came home from leading a Christian camp this week with the hairstyle of a monk, and as a family we were intrigued by the significance of an odd haircut of monastic orders.  Apparently hair was cut in a singular fashion as an act of humility and identification with Christ because the ring of hair around the head loosely resembled the circular crown of thorns Jesus wore on the cross.  It is possible a haircut could be a means of showing humility, yet because it is an outward act it can easily be motivated by a desire to be seen by others and gain favour in their eyes.  It is important to examine our own hearts that our motivation of our hearts is pure before the LORD, for a good act is quickly corrupted when it is not by faith in God.  It is what we do in secret where true humility shines.

Jesus taught His disciples concerning this in Matthew 6:1-6:  "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. ⁵ "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

There is nothing wrong with doing charitable deeds or praying and being seen by others doing so:  what is wrong is when we do charitable deeds and pray in public to be seen by others.  Jesus said it is hypocrisy to do anything charitable or good because of the glory you may gain from others.  Jesus emphasised again and again God sees what we do in secret, and He will reward us openly for it in His time and way.  It is faith in God that is satisfied by this arrangement, and it exercises humility God enables us to do by virtue of our new birth.  When we humble ourselves in the sight of the LORD, He will exalt us.  Those who humble ourselves to be exalted continue to operate according to fleshly and worldly principles.  A haircut can be humbling, yet those who wear it to appear humble are anything but.