The Gospel Grace of Humility

When I proposed to Anna in 2003, she gifted me a small, leather bound, antiquarian copy of Thomas Brooks’ The Unsearchable Riches of Christ. This little work has proven to be one of the more influential theological treatises for my spiritual as well as ministerial growth. It is an exposition of Paul’s words, “To me who am less than the least of the saints this grace was given, to preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). In his treatment of this passage, Brooks set out evidences of a truly humble soul. Here are ten of those marks:

1. “A humble soul under the highest spiritual discoveries, and under the greatest outward mercies, forgets not his former sinfulness and his former outward baseness.”

The redeemed are to continually contemplate their personal sinfulness while acknowledging that God has shown mercy and graciously granted spiritual knowledge to them in Christ. Brooks explains that a humble soul will continue to reflect on himself in light of his former and present sins. Touching on the example of the apostle Paul, Brooks wrote, 

“Paul had been taken up into the third heavens, and had glorious revelations and manifestations of God, 2 Cor. 12:1-4; he cries out, ‘I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious,’ 1 Tim. 1:13. Under the choicest discoveries, he remembers his former blasphemies; so Romans 7:23, ‘I see a law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.’ He had been at this time about fourteen years converted. . .He was a man who lived at as high a rate in God, as any we read of; a man who was filled with glorious spiritual discoveries and revelations, and yet under all discoveries and revelations, he remembers that body of sin and death that made him cry out, ‘O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me?’

2. “He overlooks his own righteousness, and lives upon the righteousness of another, namely, the Lord Jesus.”

Brooks then rooted the believer’s humility in his utter dependence on Christ and his imputed righteousness. When one recognizes that his only hope is in the blood and righteousness of Christ he finds it incompatible to harbor pride and self-righteousness in his heart. As Brooks explained, 

“A humble soul disclaims his own righteousness: ‘All our righteousness is as filthy rags.’ ‘Enter not into judgment with your servant, for in your sight shall no man living be justified,’ Psalm 143:2. . .Proud Pharisees bless themselves in their own righteousness: ‘I thank God I am not as this publican; I fast twice in the week,” etc., Luke 18:11-12. But a soul truly humbled blushes to see his own righteousness, and glories in this, that he has the righteousness of Christ to live upon.”

3. “The lowest and the most despicable good work is not below a humble soul.“

Another mark of a humble heart is that it will be willing to enter in on the most menial or despised act of service for the good of others. This accords with the humility and service of the Lord Jesus. Brooks noted, 

“The Lord Jesus himself was famous in this, John 13:4. Though he was the Lord of glory, and one who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, one who had all perfection and fullness in himself—yet the lowest work is not below this King of kings. Witness his washing his disciples’ feet and wiping them with a towel, 1 Cor. 2:8; Philip. 2:6; Col. 1:19.”

4. “A humble soul lives not upon himself, nor upon his own doings—but upon the Lord Jesus, and his doings.”

A humble person recognizes that the Lord Jesus is the only source of his spiritual life. In union with Christ by faith, a humble-hearted believer abides in Jesus as a branch abides in a vine (John 15:5). He sees that all that he needs is in Christ, and he depends upon the Savior for the totality of his Christian life and service. Brooks observed,

“A humble soul lives upon the care of Christ, the love of Christ, the promise of Christ, the faithfulness of Christ, the discoveries of Christ. He lives upon Christ for his justification, Philip. 3:7-10; he lives upon Christ for his sanctification. . .And he lives upon Christ for the performance of all holy actions, Philip. 4:13 . .As children live upon the hand of their parents; so a humble soul sees its stock of blessings are in the hand of the Lord Jesus, and therefore he lives upon Christ—upon his love, and his provision, and his undertakings, etc.

By way of contrast, proud-hearted men and women live in dependence upon themselves. Brooks wrote, 

“Proud hearts live not upon the Lord Jesus Christ; they live upon themselves, and upon their own duties, their own righteousness, their own actings, as the Scripture evidences.”

5. “A humble soul does highly prize the least of Christ.”

A humble soul longs for any spiritual sight of Christ it may have. It rejoices in the smallest revelations of Christ. Brooks observed, 

“The name of Christ, the voice of Christ, the footsteps of Christ, the least touch of the garment of Christ, the least-regarded truth of Christ, the lowest and least-regarded among the flock of Christ, is highly prized by humble souls that are savingly interested in Christ, Song 1:3; John 10:4-5; Psalm 27:4; Mat. 9:20-21; Acts 24:14; 1 Cor. 9:22. A humble soul cannot, a humble soul dares not, call anything little—which has Christ in it; neither can a humble soul call or count anything great wherein he sees not Christ, wherein he enjoys not Christ. A humble soul highly prizes the least nod, the least love-token, the least courtesy from Christ.” 

By way of contrast, Brooks indicated that “proud hearts count great mercies small mercies, and small mercies no mercies; yes, pride does so unman them, that they often call mercy misery, etc.”

6. “The humble soul will smite and strike at small sins as well as for great; for those things which the world counts no sin, as well as for those who they count gross sins.”

A humble soul will not rest until it has sought to mortify the least recognition of sin in thought, word, or action. Brooks noted, 

“A humble soul knows that little sins. . .cost Christ his blood; and that they make way for greater sins; and that little sins multiplied become great, as a little sum multiplied is great. He knows that little sins cloud the face of God, wound conscience, grieve the Spirit, rejoice Satan, and make work for repentance, etc. A humble soul knows that little sins are very dangerous. . .therefore a humble soul smites and upbraids itself for the least as well as the greatest sins.”

7. “A humble heart endeavors more to honor and glorify God in afflictions—than how to get out of afflictions.”

The humble-hearted believer wishes to learn whatever lessons the Lord is teaching it through adversity and affliction. He does not want the trial removed if he does not benefit from the spiritual lesson from God. Brooks explained, 

“A humble soul is willing to bear the cross as long as he can get strength from heaven to kiss the cross, to bless God for the cross, and to glorify God under the cross, etc., John 1:20-21.”

8. “It seeks not, it looks not, after great things.”

A humble soul does not seek self-promotion or self-advancement. He does not spend his time and energy seeking his own greatness. A truly humble believer is content to have Christ in all the circumstances that the Lord measures out to him. Brooks explained, 

“‘Lord,’ says the humble soul, ‘if you will but give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, you shall be my God, Gen. 28:20-22’. ‘Let the men of the world,’ says the humble soul, ‘take the world in all its greatness and glory, and divide it among themselves. Let me have much of Christ and heaven in my heart, and food convenient to support my life—and it shall be enough.’”

9. “He will rather bear wrongs than revenge wrongs.“

A humble person bears the wrongs done to him. He does not rise up in wounded pride and act on retributive anger. Rather, a humble-hearted believer entrusts himself to the Lord as to the One who repays evil. Brooks observed,

“The humble soul knows that vengeance is the Lord’s, and that he will repay, etc., Psalm 94:1. The humble soul loves not to take the sword in his own hand, Romans 12:19; he knows the day is coming wherein the Lord will give his enemies two blows for one, and here he rests. A humble soul, when wrongs are offered, is like a man with a sword in one hand and a salve in the other—he could wound, but will heal.”

10. “A humble soul, though he has rare abilities, does not disdain being taught what he does not know––even by the lowest people.“

The humble-hearted believer is teachable—even if the lessons come from those with less gifts than he has, as well as from those with less wisdom and knowledge. This is a rare grace in the lives of believers. Most people boast their own knowledge, abilities, and accomplishments. The humble believer knows that he knows nothing as he ought and that he has much to learn from everyone around him––even from someone who is not highly esteemed by others. Brooks appealed to the disciples learning from a poor, despised, and outcast Savior. He wrote, 

“When Christ died he made no will; he had no crown-lands, only his coat was left, and that the soldiers parted among them; and yet those who were meek and lowly in heart counted it their heaven, their happiness, to be taught and instructed by him.

Scripture everywhere commends the grace of a humble heart and sets out the many benefits that flow from it (e.g., Psalm 18:27; 25:9; 147:6; 149:4; Proverbs 3:34; 11:2; 16:19; 29:23; Matthew 23:12; Luke 1:52; 14:11; 18:14; 1 Peter 3:8; 5:5–6; James 4:6–7, 10). When we consider all that we are by nature and all that we have in Christ by grace, we find that we have every reason to be humble before God and men. As we recognize our exceedingly great sinfulness, the insurpassable glory of God, and the unsearchable riches of Christ, our hearts must necessarily be bowed low. May we make it our daily ambition to acquire and foster a humble heart before God and men.