Revisiting Humility
Humble yourself is a phrase often used in everyday speak [sic] to caution us from being proud. Strong warnings and narrations of the pitfalls of lacking humility are scattered all over Scripture, showing us what happens if we don’t stay humble. However, it seems that when we talk about humility, we tend to put out a message that sounds like:
“Don’t speak the truth about yourself.”
“Though it may be true, we don’t need to hear it.”
“This makes you sound proud and that’s not a good thing.”
When we apply for jobs, for instance, we are advised not to play down our attributes. We’re told to boldly say what we have done, can do, and will do in order to make ourselves appear as a good fit for the role we’re jostling for. Sometimes, we’re even encouraged to exaggerate them. So, it’s quite odd that we don’t encourage this approach in everyday life.
Our Example in Word
Jesus, our example through life and the afterlife, is regarded as the most humble man that walked the face of the earth, yet, when we read Scripture, we see that he said these infamous words to the Jews “Before Abraham was, I AM!” (John 8:58).
Fascinating.
Jesus is equal with God, yet he didn’t see this equality as something to be held over everybody (Philippians 2:6). He didn’t go around calling himself God. In fact, the text above is the closest we see him point directly to his equality with God, and in there, he boldly talked about His equality with God, yet he was humble about it. This — in my mind — points to one very important thing: Humility is not always about what you say, it is about how you say it, your intention for saying what you said and how you want to be perceived. Thinking about yourself less does not mean you don’t acknowledge who you are, it’s simply not using what you know you are as a stick to beat people with often.
Our Example in Deed
The highest form of humility however was again demonstrated by Jesus:
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8 ESV)
Astonishing.
Jesus shows us that obedience to God’s commands is the highest form of humility we can ever exhibit. God The Father agrees:
“But to this one I will look [graciously], To him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who [reverently] trembles at My word and honors My commands.” (Isaiah 66:2b AMP)
The opposite isn’t very palatable, as Jesus also states:
“Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor.” (Matthew 23:12 AMP)
James also paints a rather grim picture:
But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). (James 4:6 AMP)
The fact that God sets Himself against the one that is not humble should make us examine ourselves daily (2 Corinthians 13:5).
The Whole Matter
We pretty much have all we need to live humble lives as presented in word and in deed by our perfect example; Jesus of Nazareth. Do we have any excuses? We clearly don’t.
However, on examining this subject carefully, there is a chain-link that brings it all to a head: Obedience. Jesus obeyed even to the point of death and this was seen by God and the early apostles as humility, as an example equally worth dying to emulate. Paul said “follow me as I follow Christ,” which means Christ is the ultimate example and we should only follow him as he follows Christ. Samuel said to the people of Israel that God has greater delight in His people listening to and obeying His voice than in His people being disobedient and then coming to offer sacrifices later. This clearly means that it is better to obey as the first point of call than to disobey and pay penance after. It is better to be humble now than to be proud and be in a position where God is against you.
Humility is obedience to God, Humility is thinking of yourself less, Humility is speaking with confidence and not arrogance.
