Humility

"Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers.  They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.  They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling.  Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone."  Titus 3:1-2


Humility is something that I struggle with.  Humility is a key quality that, as a believer, we are supposed to possess.  However, true humility can be difficult to achieve and maintain in my daily walk with Christ.  Though I am more than familiar with what humility for a believer means, in my quest for it my attitude tends to swing between two extremes - devaluing my worth and over inflating my worth.

Quite frankly, for most of my life I always felt that I never quite measured up.  I was always comparing myself to others and never felt smart enough, pretty enough, kind enough, good enough...Christian enough!  And then there are times in my life, though much fewer, that I felt that I was better than others - smarter, more mature, more hard working, more 'together' than others - more mature in the faith.  Both contributed toward a false sense of myself in Christ. Both contributed toward a controlling, perfectionistic attitude.  Both contributed to pride in their own way - either a pride that I was so unworthy or a  pride that I was a better person!

Humility and my worth in Christ is something that I still struggle with today.  It is a struggle that I must lay at the feet of the cross on a daily basis!  I look to God's Word to help me with this struggle.

Jesus was the ultimate model of humility.  In Philippians 2, Paul writes,

   "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  
   "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had."


    Though he was God,
        he did not think of equality with God 
        as something to cling to.
   Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
        he took the humble position of a slave
        and was born as a human being.
   When he appeared in human form,
        he humbled himself in obedience to God
        and died a criminal's death on a cross."  Philippians 2:3-8 (NLT)


Though Jesus was God, a full member of the Trinity, He did not consider Himself equal to God.  He HUMBLED himself, enslaving Himself in human form - to bring Truth, to Rescue, to Redeem.  He gave Himself as a humble sacrifice - paying the penalty for OUR sins though He was without sin!!!!  Jesus was the perfect model of humility - He put our best interest above His own as He hung on that cross!!!!

Paul further defines humility for us in Romans 12:3, "Don't think you are better than you really are.  Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us."


Humility isn't about how you compare to others.  Humility isn't belittling yourself based on your shortcomings.  Nor does a humble heart put others down, either.  The commentary for my NLT for Titus 3:2 says this about humility, "We show false humility when we project negative self worth on our abilities and efforts.  We show pride when we inflate the value of our efforts or look down on others.  True humility seeks to view our character and accomplishments honestly.  Recognizing that we have succeeded in an effort need not be pride."


So there it is.  Humility is having an honest prospective of our worth and value before God.  It is how God sees us - valued and dearly loved.  We are worthy, because He made us worthy.  We are valued because He first loved us.  A heart of humility is a heart that is gentle, that considers others before ourselves, and harbors no pride.  Humility has no superiority complex. Humility propels us to serve unselfishly.  Humility promotes love and unity within the church body.  Humility is accepting our successes in a manor that produces a thankful heart, celebrating His glory without the crippling affects of negative self worth.

Humility in us is an important attribute.  Why? Because a humble attitude reflects our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in us.



In His Love, Cathy