Title: Restored: Hmmmmm...Humility! | Not Celebrated but Absolutely Necessary – Week 1

Scripture:

Ruth 1:16–17 (CEB)

“Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

Summary:

In the opening week of Hmmmmm...Humility! — Not Celebrated but Absolutely Necessary, we explored how humility is deeply connected to putting God first above ourselves, our pride, our comfort, and even our own understanding. Through Matthew 22 and the story of Ruth, we were challenged to examine what it truly means to love God first and love others well.

This teaching reminded us that humility is not weakness or humiliation. Humility is surrender. It is choosing “other street” over “self street.” It is trusting God enough to follow Him even when the path feels uncertain, uncomfortable, or costly.

Through Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi, we saw a powerful example of humility through loyalty, sacrifice, faith, and presence. Ruth risked security, familiarity, relationships, and her future, yet she chose faithfulness over fear.

We were also reminded that many of our struggles begin when self becomes the center instead of God. True transformation happens when we stop depending only on ourselves and begin seeking God first in our thoughts, decisions, emotions, and relationships.

Humility may not be celebrated by culture, but it is absolutely necessary for experiencing God’s presence and living the life He calls us to live.

Key Takeaways:

1. Humility begins when we put God before ourselves.

2. Loving God first changes how we think, respond, and treat others.

3. Humility is not humiliation. Staying humble before God matters more than how others treat us.

4. We cannot fully love others if we only see ourselves.

5. Many of our actions begin with our thoughts, which is why we must keep our minds grounded in God.

6. Ruth’s story reminds us that humility often requires faith in uncertain seasons.

7. God’s presence becomes clearer when we surrender pride, self reliance, and control.

8. True restoration requires a humble and contrite heart before God.