are you humble?

Humility is one of the most essential characteristics of being a “Christian”, as pride is a HUGE problem in our world.  Whether it’s exalting ourselves over our accomplishments or thinking we are superior to those around us, God looks very unfavorably on pride…VERY!  And to the contrary, God takes great pleasure when we humble ourselves, and loves to bless those who exhibit this trait.  Walking humbly with your God is your heart’s attitude towards Him.  This means giving God the glory when you experience a “success” or something you’ve been hoping for (or praying for) comes to fruition.  We are all God’s children.  He gave each of us unique abilities, resources and advantages which are meant to promote “His” glory, NOT ours. 

Walking humbly with our God also means how we view, treat and even serve His fellow children.  “Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position.” (Romans 12:16).  In simple terms, don’t be conceited.  And, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4).  Doesn’t sound particularly easy in application does it?  That’s why God LOVES to exalt those that practice humility in their lives.  As we begin to stop being preoccupied with our own interests, but instead seek to love and put others ahead of us, we’ll move our focus from “self” centeredness to “other” centeredness.

Does all this sound like someone we know?  How about Jesus.  The name above all names was also the example of all examples when it comes to humility.  In fact, Jesus said himself that he came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Jesus even took the form of a servant as he washed the disciples' dirty feet the very night before he was to be crucified (John 13: 1-11).  Why did he do this?  He did this as an example of how they should serve one another, and how today we should be serving others (John 13: 12-17).  Jesus literally humbled himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8)!  How did God view Jesus’ humility?  “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).
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Humility is what we should be striving for.  A new attitude of viewing, treating and serving our fellow man as we walk humbly with our God.  It won’t happen overnight, but as we earnestly and regularly pray for our hearts to be changed, and we begin to make “deliberate” choices benefiting others over ourselves, humility will grow in our souls.  If we take care of humbling ourselves, we can certainly trust God to take care of the rest.