Humility and Gentleness

by | Aug 4, 2026 | Articles, Mentors Corner

“Walk in a manner worthy of the calling” is the call to believers out of Ephesians 4:1-8. We have a duty to uphold, being adopted sons of God and imitators of Christ. Humility is freedom from pride and arrogance. However, it is not thinking poorly of ourselves. Instead, humility is the recognition that everything we have comes from God, that we are sinners saved by grace, that we are not superior to others, and that God is the ultimate authority—not us. Humility must be learned, because our natural instinct is often to exalt ourselves. Philippians 2:3–8 gives a clear example of this humility in Christ. Paul tells believers to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but to regard others as more important than themselves. We are created to look out for our own interests, but we are also called to look for the interests of others. Jesus is the perfect picture of this. Though He existed in the form of God, He “did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. ”Instead, He “emptied Himself”, took the form of a bond-servant, and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. That is maximum humility! The concept of being humble appears repeatedly throughout the Bible, and usually with an attached promise. For instance, James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” And, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE” in 1 Peter 5:5-6. This repeated lesson is simple: we must let God exalt us and avoid exalting ourselves. Gentleness is the...

Biblical Wisdom

by | Apr 20, 2026 | Articles, Mentors Corner

Biblical wisdom is more than intelligence or accumulated knowledge; it is the God-given ability to rightly apply truth in a way that honors Him. While general definitions describe wisdom as discernment, sound judgement, and skillful living, Scripture presents wisdom as being rooted in who God is and how we respond to Him. The Bible refers to wisdom hundreds of times, particularly in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word chokmah emphasizes skillful and practical living, while the New Testament word sophia highlights divine insight. Together, they reveal wisdom as both understanding and practice rather than abstract knowledge alone. Proverbs 1:7 states, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” True wisdom begins with humility, submission to God, and recognition of His sovereignty. Biblical wisdom is inseparable from obedience and stands in contrast to pride and self-reliance (see Colossians 1:9-10). Scripture distinguishes between man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom in James 3:13-17. Human wisdom is described as rooted in bitter jealousy and self-ambition. It is “earthly, natural, and demonic” and insufficient to truly know God. God’s wisdom, by contrast, is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering without hypocrisy.” In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, the Apostle Paul tells us that God’s foolishness is wiser than men; His ways are not ours. He also tells us that true wisdom finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ, whom Scripture calls “the power and wisdom of God.” So, how do we become wise according to God’s standards? Biblical wisdom is obtained by asking God in faith, learning from Scripture, walking with wise people, and...