In the Men of Grace & Granite we continued our series on Biblical Counseling & Discipleship.  In the last several sessions we have been discussing cultivating a heart for confronting and being confronted.  We can only get out in front to confront, if we are humble.  And, we can only submit to being confronted, if we are humble.  For both situations, we must learn humility. 

The key principles for learning humility can be summed up as:

1. Reject jealousy and selfish ambition (James 3:13-14)
   • Self-centered ambition is full of pride.
   • The human heart is full of pride and it is our tendency as fallen men.
   • We have no right to make a name for ourselves, God gets all the praise and glory.
   • God chooses how, when, and how much to bless, sovereignly.
   • James 4:13-16 – God has complete rights over your life.
   • We should remember we are just a vapor.
   • We do not know what tomorrow brings; everything can change in a moment.
   • We don’t boast in our desires or plans, we only boast in Christ, the cross and His plans for our lives.

2. Confess and reject all self-praise/self-worship
   • 1 Corinthians 3:21 – we are all just instruments in God’s hands
   • Are you truly thrilled for one another when they are praised?  We should be or are we secretly jealous that we are not being thanked?  We should say --- “You know what I need Lord.”
   • Ways we cultivate self-praise:
     1. Alone time, we always agree with how we praise our efforts.
     2. Social media:  how many people liked what we said or how many people are commenting on my own wisdom?
     3. Being wise in our own estimation (Romans 12:16)
   • When serving, there is only one correct purpose; you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, so He gets all the glory.
3. Reject all temptations to embellish yourself
   • Galatians 6:4-5 – Bear your own load and see if you are faithful in what the Lord gave.  Never over estimate or embellish your usefulness.
4. Know and admit your limitations
   • John 3:30; Titus 2:6-8

Join us again next week as we dig further into the ways we must learn humility.