Humility.
I think this word is easier to write than it is to live.
Possibly this characteristic is a bit elusive to you as well. I try not to write much about humility because I do not pretend to be perfect here in any way. Humility is tough. Show me the person who is continually humble and I will show you a person who walks with Jesus and fears God.
In this mini-series, I explain the foundational challenge of living as a Christian and explore the five key attitudes that go along with it. In the first article, we discussed balance together. Not just any kind of balance, but a special balance: the responsibility we have as Christians to balance God’s call on us (as indicated through the three senses of the Gospel) and our walk or lifestyle.
The challenge for each of us is to walk consistent with the wonderful realities of the Gospel. Yet, God enables us to do this, which is the blessing. Although God graciously gives us a challenge, He also provides the ability to live up to that challenge.
Living consistent with the Gospel requires five key attitudes in order to glorify God. Today is the first: humility.
Five Key Characteristics of Walking with Christ: Humility
As you consider each of these five key characteristics of walking with Christ, think in terms of a staircase. Unless you begin at the first step, it is impossible to get to the rest of the corresponding steps. The first step is humility.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
1 I, 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. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)
Lowliness refers to humility. Humility basically means that you see God and others as more important than yourself. You take on a lowly position. You hold God’s concerns and others’ concerns as greater. Jesus, of course, is the perfect example of humility (cf. Phil 2:1-11).
Humility is the opposite of pride.
No doubt one of the greatest challenges of this first key characteristic of authentic gospel living is consistently living it. Humility and pride sit as opposites of each other. Wherever you learn more about pride, you also learn about its opposite – humility. Any effort at killing pride promotes humility. The two always stand in opposition to each other.
More In This Series Balance: More than Just Merely a Goal or Good Idea 5 Key Characteristics of Walking with Christ: Gentleness 5 Key Characteristics of Walking with Christ: Patience 5 Key Characteristics of Walking with Christ: Forbearance 5 Key Characteristics of Walking with Christ: Unity of the Spirit 5 Key Characteristics of Walking with Christ: The Application – Living Like Christ
When you begin to think you are humble…
Whenever you are convinced you are humble, problems begin. Pride comes before a fall.
I remember I was once going to introduce a good friend as a humble person. I believe he truly strove to be so on a regular basis. Just prior to me getting up and introducing him with some introduction thoughts jotted down on a small paper in my hand, this man handed me a piece of paper. On it, he described all of his accomplishments that he desired for me to share with those in attendance. I folded my piece of paper up that described his humility and put it back in my pocket.
His problem that day comes from pride. My problems too many days also come from pride. I still believe he was a humble person – most days. I pray I am headed that way – at least most days. Wouldn’t it be great if pride were as easy to put away as that piece of paper that afternoon? It would be nice if I could boast of great progress here; however, life-lived proves otherwise. I would dare never pronounce myself as such, even if I thought I was. Pride tricks us often in believing we are truly humble.
Some of my friends in other places have written on pride versus humility. I always stand in awe of them. Today, I write about humility because it is the first and foundational characteristic of authentic Christianity – not as one who has attained but as one who seeks to move that direction.
Understanding humility…
The easiest definition for humility follows the first and second Great Commandments given by Jesus. He summarized all the commandments up into these two:
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
A truly humble person follows the Great Commandments in the way he or she lovingly sees others.
Humility loves God and considers Him supremely. A humble person walks in great respect of Who God is and what God does; this is known as the fear of the Lord. He or she considers God as supreme. In other words, God matters most (cf., Prov 22:4).
Others truly matter as well. A humble person puts the concerns of others above his or her concerns for self (cf., Phil 2:3-4). We see the other person’s concerns as valuable and desire to honor his or her concerns. We seek to be please the other person and serve according to his or her desires (cf., James 3:17 – sweet reasonableness).
I appreciate the way C.S. Lewis refers to humility, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
Reflection Questions
- How do you view God in comparison to yourself? Do you value God’s opinion, desires, and commands as greater than your own opinions, desires, and preferences?
- How do you view others in comparison to yourself? Do you seek to do what is best for them, see their opinions and desires as more valuable than your own, and prefer the other person above yourself?
- As you live every day, are you the subject of your thinking, desires, and behavior? Do you primarily strive to satisfy your own longings, desires, and feelings or do you seek to live in light of loving God supremely and others sincerely?
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