Who Aspires to be Humble?

Humility has got a bit of bad press lately. For many people humility goes with words like “self effacing”, “weak”, and “poor self esteem”. For men it is seen as the opposite of ‘being a man and sticking up for yourself’.

But humility looks totally different in the Bible. It somehow looks courageous and heroic. Paul looks at Jesus’ example of humility as something worth copying in our own lives.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name…” (Philippians 2:3-9 NIV)

It seems that humility is about having such a passionate love for others that you set aside your own interests and plans in order to be there for them. Rather than being weak it seems to show strength and determination. Just like the father who can’t swim well jumping into the flooded river to save his young daughter at risk of being swept away. Even though there is danger and distress to himself, he considers it all worthwhile because humility is a natural by-product of love.

Mary, too set aside all her own plans for her life when the God whom she loved called upon her.

“30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” …
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 2 NIV

Mary’s humility was not born of poor self-esteem and so let God walk all over her. Rather it was born of love and so gladly set aside what she wanted to do so that God could do what he needed to do through her.

That showed sheer gutsy courage.

May you also be tough enough and courageous enough to love other before yourself; may you be humble!

Graeme