As we look at many of these principles, this is one of my favorites: “He that is little in his own eyes will not be troubled to be little in the eyes of others.”  I love that.  He that’s little in his own eyes is not troubled to be little in the eyes of others.  We don’t have to try to impress people.  We think, sometimes, that we’re in a position of true humility, and we’ve laid our lives down, and then all of a sudden, somebody makes reference to the fact that we’re not what we think we are, and we really are offended that we’re not hearing what is our opinion of ourself.  When you’re humble, you’re not concerned with what other people think, even if they’re wrong.  Job tried to justify himself instead of God; amen?  “Maybe you guys do see me this way.  I don’t care how you see me.  And in fact, in actuality, I’m probably worse than you imagine.”  Because, as Paul said—and how many of us will take this upon ourselves? —I am the chief of sinners.  Now, many of us will say—and I think some of us say it without sobriety, “Well, I’m just the chief of sinners.”  Really?  Is that really how you see yourself?  Then why are you so haughty?  Why will you not receive counsel?  Why do you think you know better?  Why are you special if you are the chief of sinners?  So, the reality of where we live on a daily basis—I think all of us could use a little more humility; amen?  And we all agree with that constantly, and rightfully so.  But it doesn’t just happen.  It’s a process.  It’s a work.  It’s a daily, absolute daily, decision to deny yourself.

When we wake up every morning and see the need to deny self, humility is working in us.  I didn’t say the habit of making a statement about being humble.  I’m talking about being humble, really knowing the lack that I have.  I don’t know about you, but without Him, I can do nothing.  Without Him I can’t—I can’t walk this walk; I can’t get it right.  Our Lord and Master took upon Himself the form of a man and humbled Himself and came and lived among us in absolute submission and obedience to His Father; amen?  “Walk as I walked,” He said.  “Walk as I walked.”  That humility that’s so necessary.  That Philippians 2:8 passage, “He was obedient unto death even of the cross.”  We’ve got a daily cross.  We’re to be obedient to the death of the cross.  This old man has got to die.

I have a little plaque that says, “The older I get, the better I was.”  But we’ve talked about believing our own press clippings.  There’s a lot to that statement, “The older I get, the better I was.”  It would be interesting, now, after fifty years, to go back over all the statements that I have made and see how much better I’ve gotten over the years.  I’m one of the few of us that could probably trace it.  How do you see yourself?  Dependent?  The Scripture is very clear about our recognition.  The Master said, and made it very clear: greatness in His kingdom is to walk as a little child; amen?  Now, when it speaks to us and He’s talking about walking as a little child, this is what brings that greatness into effect.  It doesn’t relate to how we relate in the body of Christ; it’s relating to Father.  It has to do with how we relate our humility to Father, our total absolute dependance upon Him.  Have you noticed that children don’t worry about the mortgage payment?  Have you noticed that?  It doesn’t bother them a bit.  They’re not wringing their hands over whether they’re going to come home and open the fridge and there’s some milk in there.  Up until a certain age, you just believe that it’s supernaturally there; it just shows up.  “Every time I open the door, milk’s in there.  It’s a miracle.”  We’re the ones that worry about the food and the raiment.