I’ve been thinking about humility recently.  Humility is something I give lip service to, but in practice it isn’t something I’ve valued very much.  I know God values humility, though, because he tells us so. James 4:6 echoes Proverbs 3:34 when it says:

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

I also know God values humility because he showed it to us through Jesus.  If we know Jesus, we know God. Even just a cursory glance at Jesus tells us he values humility.  He was born in a stable, not a fancy beginning. He spoke kindly to the woman caught in the bedroom of some guy who wasn’t her husband when he could have piously declared that he never would have done such a thing.  He didn’t consider himself too pure to chat with the foreign woman getting water from the well, who was a divorcee five times over and lived with yet another man. Don’t think He didn’t know, because when He called her out for it, she responded, “Sir, I perceive you are a prophet!”   He treasured the raw and bold act of a prostitute, who out of love and gratitude, cried all over his feet.   

Perhaps the most monumental demonstration of humility is that God became a man and lived among us.  It’s not that an educated, spiritually enlightened man rose up to become God, but rather that God humbled himself to become a man.  That humility led straight to one bad, ugly place: death. Jesus didn’t consider equality with God something to be held tightly. From birth to death Jesus didn’t talk about humility so much as he lived it.

I’m sure a lot could be said about humility, but I’ve noticed these three things.

First, humility only exists in the context of relationship.  Indeed, does it make any sense to be humble alone? How would you even do that?  Jesus humbled himself in relation to the Father, being constantly obedient and trusting Him with everything.  Recently I noticed the need for humility in a relationship I had with another woman who just drove me nuts. In my opinion, she acted like a know-it-all, solving everyone’s problems including mine, when I really didn’t want them solved at all, and when (in my view) she lacked half the experience I had.  Then I felt God’s gentle admonition that this relationship needed a dose of humility on my part. Relationships aren’t a contest of who knows what, who’s been through more or who does “being a Christian” better. I thought about humility and my sinful, prideful attitude and started looking for ways to serve this woman.  That relationship took a definite positive turn.  

Secondly, humility goes hand in hand with honesty.  A few weeks ago, I found myself in a counselor’s office talking about trauma.  I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to talk about trauma, but it’s really, really hard.  My face got hot, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe while I tried to spit out the honest truth about the impact of schizophrenia on my family and the low places that led me.  It’s so hard to admit all the things that happened. It’s embarrassing. I want people to see the good stuff and celebrate that. But, the truth is there’s also some seriously bad stuff that, left unattended, only leads to more seriously bad stuff.  An honest look at myself and my family required humility and I had to pause and ask God for it. Jesus didn’t have to confess sin, but he certainly experienced the consequences of sin. Yet, he humbled himself by subjecting himself to the will of the Father and by depending daily on the enabling work of the Spirit.  

And thirdly, humility is a gift.  It’s counterintuitive, right?  We don’t associate humility with happy feelings, but God pairs it with good things.  1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”  Humility demonstrates trust in God. He will give me all the recognition I need; I don’t need to school anyone. Jesus humbled himself to become a man, to serve the people around him and to die.  Jesus knew God would take care of everything. God honored that trust and exalted him above all others. When I humbled myself to serve someone who annoyed me, God brought unity, peace, friendship, and laughter.  Allowing God to make me humble enough to admit the truth about my life led to insight, healing, freedom, forgiveness, and a sense of God’s work in my life. I needed the gift of humility so God could give me all those other good things.

Do you find yourself in need of the grace of humility?  If it seems hard, remember that Jesus lost nothing of any value in his humiliation, for God takes care of everything and gives every good gift. 

ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Elisabeth and her husband Rich gratefully parent four children – their boys joined their family by birth, and their girls came by way of adoption. Prior to moving to Pennsylvania, Elisabeth worked as an adjunct professor of chemistry and as a lab coordinator in a genetic center. She enjoys working in her garden, goes hiking whenever she gets a chance and feels happy when she makes things. Click here to meet the Willowdale Women bloggers.