Have you ever looked at someone and thought a negative thought? Have you ever judged another person? The person at whom you look may be a stranger even. But as you look at him or her, you criticize, even if it is only in your own heart.
Humility changes the way you see and treat people.
After a long explanation of the Gospel (Eph 1-3), Paul challenges every Christian to live consistent with it. He provides five key attitudes of Gospel-living:
1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
The first of the five key attitudes is lowliness or humility. The pattern for humility is Jesus (Phil 2:5-11) and includes esteeming others better than self and being concerned about others’ welfare as your own.
Two Opposite Stories
Two quick but opposite stories:
A woman is in what one person considers inappropriate clothing. She is immediately judged by another, and even began to be corrected. However, she explained that through a disaster she had lost all of her clothes and this outfit was her only one.
Another lady walks up to the car window trying to sell papers. The one at the window began a conversation instead of just buying a paper. The lady explained why she sold papers in the mornings on the street. After hearing the answer, the man handed her a wad of cash and allowed her to sell her paper to the next person.
What’s the difference between these two responses to people. In the first, a lack of humility produced a spirit of judgment. In the second, humility pursued knowledge and then acted out of compassion.
What spirit will you cultivate today as you engage the people around you?
