“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:6-7 AMP

The Father loves us and He wants to take care of us — He wants us to be dependent on Him for everything — He wants to be our provider and protector. It takes humility not to worry. It takes humility to trust God and not the arm of the flesh. It takes humility to look to the Father and to wait on Him for everything. The proud and arrogant are self-contained, self-enriched and self-supported — at least they think they are. They believe that they don’t need God. They don’t know that it is He who rains on the just and the unjust and provides for all His creation.

Sometimes God’s people look at the sinners and think that they have it better than them, as in Malachi 3:13-15 AMP: “Your words have been strong and hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? 14 You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily and as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we consider the proud and arrogant to be happy and favored; evildoers are exalted and prosper; yes, and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].” However, the Lord assures us in Malachi 4:1 AMP that, “For behold, the day comes that shall burn like an oven, and all the proud and arrogant, yes, and all that do wickedly and are lawless, shall be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”

Proverbs 18:11-12 AMP says that, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit. Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor.” And Proverbs 16:18-19 AMP tells us that, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek and poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:2 that in the last days, people will be selfish, greedy and arrogant (among other things). In order to walk in integrity, Christians will have to resist the temptation to follow the crowd and do what they do. Don’t ever be tempted to compare your situation unfavorably with that of a sinner. Material wealth is not the greatest gift in life, for what will it profit you if you gain the whole world, and lose your own soul? (Mark 8:36) On the Day of Judgment, you will stand alone before God. As Proverbs 11:4 AMP tells us, “Riches provide no security in any day of wrath and judgment, but righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) delivers from death.” The choices we make here on earth affect our own eternity and that of others, so let’s make good ones! Anyone, who wants to be used by the Lord, must set a Biblical standard in and for their own life. Titus 1:7 says that the person who wants to be in authority must not be self-willed or arrogant or presumptuous nor grasping and greedy for filthy lucre or financial gain. Some of the things that will make Christians stand out as never before in these last days are their generosity, graciousness and hospitality — even as the darkness encroaches on us more and more, our light shines brighter!

Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God], 10 And the rich [person ought to glory] in being humbled [by being shown his human frailty], because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits. James 1:9-11 AMP

As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment. 18 [Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share [with others], 19 In this way laying up for themselves [the riches that endure forever as] a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 AMP

The Lord has a special message for the rich: Humble yourself to acknowledge God as your source and supply and use your blessing to be a blessing. The Lord also has a special message for the not so rich: Rejoice in what you do have in Christ. Whatever God gives ANY of you — appreciate ALL of it and be content with what you have — because your life is short and eternity is forever!

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and in holy array. 30 Tremble and reverently fear before Him, all the earth’s peoples; the world also shall be established, so it cannot be moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigns! 1 Chronicles 16:29-31 AMP

Humble yourself to be faithful to bring your tithe and your offering before the Lord. Always acknowledge Him as your source and supply.

The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous. Proverbs 3:33 AMP

The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 AMP