Before having children, I made a mental list of all I was going to do differently when raising kids from the many parents I observed. Because of this, I reasoned, we would have an easier time parenting. Naturally.
I remember visiting a church member in her home, and as I watched her kid eat Fruit Loops cereal, I thought, I will never give my child sugar cereal. I told my husband when we returned home that providing sugar cereal was just really bad parenting on her part. As I sit here today, now more than 18 years into this parenting thing, I’m watching my son eat his third bowl of Fruit Loops. This is breakfast. Apple Jacks just may be lunch.
Unfortunately, there are several examples in my life when humility was lacking. It’s astonishing to me, thinking back, that I thought I had this parenting thing figured out before God even gave me a child to raise. For many reasons, I was blinded by my own arrogance.
As we near this holiday season, I have humility on my mind. It’s a characteristic that is crucial for believers and being treated in a humble manner is certainly welcomed by all. C.S. Lewis once said that “to even get near humility, even for a moment, is like a drink of cold water to a man in a desert.”
While we welcome such humble treatment, in many regards, our culture has pushed aside the act of humility, suggesting that somehow it shows weakness or inability, and Christians have too easily followed suit. Thanks to social media venues that allow us to speak as experts…in all areas of life, many have disregarded the significance of interacting in a humble way and have chosen instead to relate with harsh words or manners in order to make themselves look better, smarter, or more knowing than another. But Christ has set a totally different example. In following His lead, it’s important that we grasp the significance of why we should seek to act, speak, and think with humility rather than becoming blinded by our own pride.
What is Humility?
Jesus is our greatest example as He displayed humility from the moment he subjected Himself to our finite world, born in a filthy manger and enduring the pains of this earth, to the moment he carried the cross to Golgotha in obedience to His Father.
Philippians 2 says that Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.”
The life of Jesus portrays humility in every aspect, but what is most important to recognize is who we are in light of God’s humble nature. Because He came to earth, emptying Himself and taking on the form of a servant, because He humbled Himself to the point of death, and because Jesus was raised from the dead, we are redeemed.
Humility views our sin and weakness in light of the greatness of God. It’s this that gives us a proper perspective on who we truly are – children of God, In Christ, because of what He has done for us. When we begin to grasp the significance of our Savior’s work on our behalf, as undeserving as we are, we naturally respond in humble praise and thanksgiving: Nothing in my hands I bring; simply to thy cross I cling.
What Difference Does Humility Make?
When we’re reminded that all we have and all we are is because of Christ’s work in us, the implications are far-reaching.
Living humbly affects the way we respond to another person with whom we have deep disagreement. Humility recognizes that there will always be more to learn in this life. Humility whispers in our ear: You are not better! before harsh words roll off our lips. For this reason, humility creates peace rather than turmoil.
Humility does not hide from accolades, nor does it respond with false humility, but it welcomes praise and encouragement, giving glory to God alone. There is not a gift or talent you possess that has not been graciously given by your Creator. As you use these gifts, receive with gladness the praises offered to you, but usher them on with thanksgiving to the One who made you to sing, write, play, serve, dance, and create.
Living with a proper understanding of who we are before Christ affects our relationships with our spouse, with church members, and with our close friends. Humility causes us to listen more attentively in each of these areas. It allows us to hear the heart of another, and not just for the sake of rebuttal, but for the sake of truly understanding another’s perspective. Humility strips the weight of bitterness because of a relationship that is broken, and it allows us to treat another with grace, no matter how we are treated in response. This doesn’t mean withholding truthful words, and it certainly doesn’t mean allowing someone to scorn your name unduly. But humility withholds belligerent words intended to hurt and instead speaks with genuine love and concern knowing that this is how your Savior responds to you each time you are blinded by your own arrogance.
Open your eyes to God’s unending grace and undeserved kindness. We are dependent on this grace and on this mercy, and because we are offered these rich gifts in Christ, we don’t need to prove ourselves better or cling to our petty arguments to prove superiority. Humility paves the way for the deep love of Jesus to flow in and throw us and pours out onto others we come in contact with.
Humility says to a world blinded with pride:
I am nothing without Jesus who lives in me.
