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| Finding real humility |
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What should humility look like? Is it admitting you’re a helpless/hopeless sinner, no better than the next guy? Is it conceding that you’re not as good as so-and-so? Is it telling people that you are limited in your abilities and understanding? I don’t think so. Rather than thinking “meanly” of yourself, I have come to believe that real humility is simply not thinking of yourself at all. Most would probably consider the opposite of humility to be pride, or thinking highly (and much) of oneself.
Of course everyone values humility in other people. It’s such a charming quality! But oh how hard it is to practice it ourselves. (We have our rights and dignity to maintain, after all.) And I suspect many who seem to find the ability to display humility probably end up falling into the trap of pridefully calling attention to it. Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote in Be Joyful (p. 58), “humility is that grace that, when you know you have it, you have lost it."
Interestingly, and seemingly contradictorily, the most humble man of all time also happened to be the greatest man of all time. His attitude is described by the apostle Paul in chapter 2 of his letter to the Philippians:
2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
This verse tells us about Someone of divine pedigree and unparalleled privilege (his true nature), who set all of his greatness aside in order to voluntarily take on a very different nature, that of a servant, a person of little to no privilege. He had to set aside his rights in order to accomplish this. (But do I really have to set aside my “rights”?) He made himself nothing. Jesus didn’t think badly about himself, he simply didn’t think of himself at all. (“Nothing“ is not bad, it’s simply… nothing!)
Paul the apostle had a similar attitude: "I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing." (2 Corinthians 12:11)
The word “humiliation” also comes from the root: humil –. We would probably say that Jesus entire earthly experience was one great 33-year long humiliation, capped by an excruciatingly humiliating criminal’s death. Yet Jesus likely never felt humiliated, because the entire focus of his mind was somewhere other than himself. How about that?!
So for me to live according to Jesus’ example means finding the ability to make myself nothing (not bad, just nothing), and to give up my “rights”. I don’t expect that ability to develop in me fully overnight, but rather gradually over time as my relationship with the Lord grows. As I exercise humility, others might see humiliation. But if it’s real humility that I’ve found, I will likely not feel humiliation, only the joy of seeing the Father’s will accomplished in and by me! |
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Kathy |
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August 12, 2007 at 8:39pm |
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Excellent blog, Mike! I love Wiersbe's quote: Humility is that grace that, when you know you have it, you have lost it. And you hit the nail of the head. When we set out to become the most humble person in the world, we have missed the whole point and will not find it!
For a picture of real humility, add this movie to your netflix queue! She was amazing! |
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| This is another great blog. I hope that doesn't puff you up :-) I don't know about you...but I take pride in my humility :-) |
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Hey Zach, puff me up? No way. I deeply appreciate the endorsement, I know you'll also be right there if/when I take a misstep, and provide the loving and much needed accountability. Thanks for stepping up to the comment box!
Kathy, thank you! And thanks for the movie recommendation, not only did I add it to our short list of movies to watch, but I starred your review. ~mike |
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Sue |
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August 12, 2007 at 9:11pm |
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Zach, You don't have to worry about Mike in the pride department. He is a very humble man. I am sure you can see that from his post
So I know I can say this without puffing up my bro....Great post brother! |
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Kathy |
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August 12, 2007 at 9:14pm |
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| Thanks, Mike! :) |
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Sue |
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August 12, 2007 at 9:15pm |
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Your welcome Mike! |
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Its what I'm here for Mike :-)
Here...an invisible star for you. |
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| this is awesome...thank you so much for sharing your insight with others..truly working as a united body together... i love it!! i really like the thought of people might see us as humiliated but we wont feel humiliated.... what a God thing!!! that we may look foolish but truly not be fools!!! |
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| Another grat blog bro. God bless |
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Glenn |
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August 13, 2007 at 6:04am |
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I don't know about any of you, but I find it very hard to not think of myself and put myself first. It comes so easily to me, that is why true humility will be hard to come by! I must rely upon Christ to work his humility within my heart, becasue I surely will fail.
Once again I am thankful for your insight here Mike.
peace
glenn |
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Jen |
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August 13, 2007 at 12:53pm |
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| Great reminder, Mike, IMHO... :-) |
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Thanx Mike... Thanx God... It seems every time I turn around I'm running into "Humility isn't thinking of less of yourself it's thinking of yourself less" If only it was easy to put into practice. Maybe that's why we need grace. 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Sometimes I think that time spent beating myself up is still time spent on selfish endeavors. |
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| Dave, thx for the comment. Here's the point: time spent on beating yourself up is still time spent on you! God made you, God loves you, issue settled, move on! (...as in, move on to Him, and allow Him to move you on to serving others!) God bless you Dave, God loves you and so do I, brother! ~mike |
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| Thanks mike, I hope Rich reads this. God bless |
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| After taking time to print this BLOG read it and ponder the scriptures (gotta love that book of Philipians) I decided one star wasn't enough. |
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| hee hee, I only wish you had more stars to give it... Thanks Dave. ~mike |
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Great blog Mike! You are correct when you say that true humility takes place as a result of being others centered, not by beating yourself up.
Yet another valuable insight!
I am always blessed by your blogs! |
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| Another Star for you, my brother |
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Yes indeed. This is another outstanding profundity of Scripture which I enjoy greatly. Thank you, Mike.
My I add that verse eight of your chosen passage is vitally important for this topic. It leads to the completion of the humility demonstrated by our Lord Jesus.
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 KJV
You see, our Lord Jesus in complete humility was manifested in laying aside all that He is (his will and power as God) to be fashioned as a lowly man; afterward, to live in obedience, even obedience unto death of the cross.
We too in like manner find true humility by first, having the same mind set as our Lord; giving up everything that we are, mainly our strong will to be who and what we are, in order to become a meek and humble servant unto God serving in true obedience just as our Lord has served in pure obedience fulfilling the will and purpose of God, even unto to death.
You see, whenever Scripture instructs us in the will of God, it first requires of us to be humbled in order to serve His will and purpose and not our.
--JR |
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