In these contemporary times, humility is a greatly under-emphasized quality among humans. Some don’t know what it means, don’t know how to appreciate it, don’t know how to love with it, and aren’t all that sure they want to have it.
Culturally, we are much more likely to be drawn to the energetic, dynamic, charismatic, crowd-drawing leader. That’s who gets the headlines and the attention. and television appearances and bigger money. But, if we listen closely and watch carefully, we can see in Jesus someone who is humble, but strong; humble, but charismatic; humble, but crowd drawing; humble, but dynamic.
You see, the same Lord who spoke into the threatening waves, stilled the storm and spoke into the crowds is the Lord who washed feet and died on a cross and fed the thousands and held babies in his arms when it wasn’t politically correct.
So maybe we might need to rethink humility and try living and loving it like Jesus did. Come to think of it, that’s exactly what we need to do; no “maybe” about it! Let’s be like Jesus, and the humility comes along with the character!
Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition – Traditional Version
“I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
Matthew 23:11-12 The Message
11-12 “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Humility can seem like the most unlikely place to look if you and I want to gain in knowledge, wisdom, skills, or grow much in any way as a person. Should not you and I instead be more bold, brash, and willing to chase after everything you desire? Contemporary, conventional wisdom certainly says so, but conventional wisdom also tends to overlook if not just plain forget the greatest example set by the most accomplished and yet most humble person ever to walk this earth.
Jesus humbled Himself before God and before man, yet He was and always will be the most exalted among us. As in all things, we should follow His example and seek to humble ourselves before others in all that we do and speak. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted,” Christians read in Matthew 23:12. These spiritually inspiring Biblical words of encouragement should be used as an essential guide as we go through this life and encounter new people and situations which call for your humility.
in Matthew 18:3, Jesus told his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
This statement echoes the statement made in Matthew 23:11-12 that in order to be in eternal communion with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, an attitude of service and humility must burst forth from the seams of our character and countenance, leaving no doubt that the grace we all freely received for our salvation took root within our hearts and has borne much fruit.
The fact is that no single person knows absolutely everything. No matter how smart and wise you think or allow yourself to believe you are, the amount we know pales woefully in comparison to everything that we do not know. This is, thankfully, what other people are for. They are there to teach us and provide us with everything we lack, and we are to do the same in return. Unfortunately, such an exchange of skills and talents is virtually impossible without humility.
If you consider someone else’s ideas and opinions as beneath you, or if you come to everything with preconceived notions and judgments, then you will surely either have greater difficulty or never be able to learn anything new. You will always get yourself stuck in your narrow and limited view of the world. Everyone has different experiences, different knowledge, and different skill sets which are meant to complement, not to compete with, our own. Being too prideful to learn from others is the best way to stunt your personal growth.
Being humble does not mean that you and I have to let ourselves be changed by someone else’s way of thinking. Perhaps there are, in some areas, where you are more knowledgeable than another person, and you do know a better way. You should, not however, scorn what anyone else has to say. Be willing to hear them out, listen and move on respectfully if their ideas are not right for you.
Not only should we strive to humble ourselves before others, as Jesus did, but let’s ultimately humble ourselves before God. 1 Peter 5: 6 instructs Christians to, “humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” If we are too great an effort to be too prideful to see God working in our and our neighbors lives and to submit to God’s will for us, then He will truly never be able to lift us up to the abundant life in God that we are called to live.
Imagine the scope of all the possibilities which would flourish in our lives if we so chose to filter our minds through the spiritual colander of humility, washing away all unrighteousness and iniquity that enslaves us and leaving behind only the God honoring qualities that produce the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Though humility should be practiced for the sake of itself, it’s also nice to know that being humble has some very important benefits for our daily lives. As you and I can hopefully see, far from making a person weak, humility is in fact one of the biggest strengths that someone could ever display. Praise God! Alleluia!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, let us give a moments rest to our hearts, surrender ourselves and humble ourselves.
Psalm 61:1-4 AKJV
Psalm 61
To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a shelter for me,
and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in thy tabernacle forever:
I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
Almighty God, I know You can shape and reshape everything, that no thought can be withheld from You. “Who is he who hides council without knowledge?” Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know. “Hear and I will speak I will question You and You shall declare to Me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You,” therefore I surrender myself over unto your unconventional leadership. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 