"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." (James 4:10)
We stumble into the word humility a lot in the Bible. But how do we define humility? What exactly is being humble? And why is it important?
Humility is often characterized as genuine gratitude, a lack of arrogance, and a modest view of one’s self. However, the biblical definition of humility goes beyond this. Humility is a critical and continuous emphasis on godliness in the Bible. We are called upon to be humble followers of Christ and trust in the wisdom and salvation of God. True humility is seeing ourselves as we truly are, fallen in sin and helpless without God.
"He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way." Psalm 25:9
Biblical humility is grounded in the nature of God. The Father descends to help the poor and afflicted; the incarnate Son embodied humility from His birth to the Crucifixion, even in His Resurrection. The coupled usage of "meek" and "humble in heart" in Matthew 11:29 emphasizes Christ's humility before humankind, whom he came to serve, and His submission before God. Humility and meekness are often interrelated as both are righteous traits for serving the will of God.
The importance of humility is directly related to the deadly consequences of pride. Pride separates us from God as we do not acknowledge and appreciate the eternal sovereignty of our Lord. Therefore, humility is important in our deep gratitude for properly recognizing God's divinity and love for us. Humility's importance is also found in recognizing our flawed nature as humans on earth and our susceptibility to sin, if not vigilant against temptation.
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." ~ 1 Peter 5:8
Merriam-Webster defines humility as "freedom from pride or arrogance: the quality or state of being humble." For further depth into this definition, let's look at the three senses in which humble is defined:
1: not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive
2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission; a humble apology
3: ranking low in a hierarchy or scale; not costly or luxurious
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. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 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 2:3-11
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 14:11
"You can have no greater sign of confirmed pride than when you think you are humble enough." - William Law
"I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidence that He is indeed our Master." - John Newton
"A humble man is never rash, hasty or perturbed, never has any hot and volatile thoughts, but at all times remains calm. Even if heaven were to fall and cleave to the earth, the humble man would not be dismayed. Not every quiet man is humble, but every humble man is quiet." - St. Isaac the Syrian
Humility is essential because it allows us to submit to God's will, recognize His authority, and acknowledge our dependence on Him. Pride separates us from God, while humility brings us closer to Him by recognizing His sovereignty and love.
Humility and faith are intertwined, as humility allows us to trust in God's wisdom rather than our own understanding. By humbling ourselves, we open our hearts to God's guidance and place our faith in His plans for us.
In the Bible, humility is not just about modesty or lack of arrogance; it is about acknowledging our need for God and submitting to His will. It involves trusting in His sovereignty and walking in obedience to His commands.
Jesus exemplified humility throughout His life by serving others, submitting to God's will, and ultimately sacrificing Himself on the cross for humanity's sins. His humility is the perfect model for how we should live in submission to God's authority.
Image Attribution: Don Christner on Flickr
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