UMBLE PIE

The phrase “humble pie” comes from the medieval dish “umble pie”, which was a pie made from the edible organs of a deer or hog. Ole Ernest Lee ain’t ever ‘et that kind of pie, but he has ‘et chittlins, which are the intestines of hogs. They were pretty good, but its been years since he ‘et chittlins.

Back in the 1600s, only the real poor people ate umble pie. It was a dish not served by those who could afford something else. People who ate it were humiliated they were having to eat what many people threw out.

Humility is like that today. Few want to experience it and fewer want to embrace it. Embracing humility is the practice of acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers and that there is always room for improvement.

Being humiliated is when a person is made to feel ashamed, embarrassed, or to have lost self-respect, pride, or dignity. It can be caused by intimidation, trickery, physical or mental mistreatment. In some cases, a mean spirited person deliberately does something to HUMILIATE another person. People who intentionally humiliate others are often called sadists-individuals who enjoy causing pain to others.

Ole Ernest Lee did a study on humility in the Bible. In God’s Word, humility is a virtue that is described as a heart attitude of meekness, lowliness, and absence of self. It is a prerequisite for Christians, and is a virtue that followers of Christ are encouraged to develop.

The greatest example of humility in the Bible is Jesus Christ. Jesus humbled himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross.

Here are some verses in the Bible about humility:

Colossians 3.12-14; Philippians 2.3-8: Humility involves seeking to honor God and looking out for the interests of others. 

Proverbs 22:4: Humility involves fearing the Lord and recognizing the dangers of ignoring His commands. 

Ephesians 4:2-6: Humility involves being patient, bearing with one another in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit. 

Luke 14:11: Humility involves being honored in the presence of all the other guests. 

Romans 12:16: Humility involves living in harmony with one another and not being proud. 

James 4:10: Humility involves humbling oneself before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 

Ernest Lee’s buddy, John MacArthur preached a sermon titled, ‘The Unparalleled Humility of Jesus,’ that is worth watching. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_P9JDmjMLQ

Ernest Lee likes to joke and tell people he wrote a book titled, “Humility & How Ernest Lee Mastered it.” Some people don’t get it. They think they can master humility by being meek and eating ‘umble pie,’ but the way you become more humble is by not being prideful. C.S. Lewis said, “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind…… it is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began.”

Another one of Ernest Lee’s running buddies, Jonathan Edwards, said:

The first and worst cause of errors that abound in our day and age is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the mind and mislead the judgment. Pride is the main handle by which he has hold of Christian persons and the chief source of all the mischief that he introduces to clog and hinder a work of God. Spiritual pride is the main spring or at least the main support of all other errors. Until this disease is cured, medicines are applied in vain to heal all other diseases.

Ernest Lee struggles with pride and is often proud he is humble, meek and lowly. I doubt any of ya’ll do, but pray for Ernest Lee that he will will be less prideful. After all- pride goes before a fall- Proverbs 16:18- and Ernest Lee don’t need to be falling anymore than he is at his age.