We’ve been discussing how we minister as the body of Christ. This is one of the themes of the book of Philippians. Now Paul brings us to the subject of humility. It’s an important part of our Christian life together.
I think sometimes we get so focused on who we are in Christ that we forget about who we were without Him. Don’t get me wrong. It’s imperative that we understand our “in Christ realities.” But who I am in Christ has nothing to do with my accomplishments and everything to do with what the Lord has done in me.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
God wants us to walk humbly together. The problem is that many believers don’t understand the Scriptural concept of humility. We don’t like the sound of that word.
At one point children were running around the feet of Jesus. He reached down and picked one up.
And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3-4
We need to learn from the humility of children. When they’re with an adult who shows them love and attention, children are transformed. That adult becomes their world.
They want to be like that adult. They want to act and talk like them. Children just want to hang around that kind of adult. They look up to them and have the attitude that “he or she is it!”
That’s what true humility is all about. It has nothing to do with considering yourself as dirt. Humility never puts itself down, but rather sees others as better. That makes a world of difference. Humility looks beyond its own interests.
When you’re truly walking in humility, you’re no longer the center of your own world. Now the needs and desires of other people become important to you. You want to find a way to uplift others.
In our walk with God, that translates to seeing God’s desires for us as greater than our own wants. I want to please Him first, before I please myself. I seek the Lord for who He is rather than what I can get from Him.
Instead of looking to Christ and saying, “I want this from You.” we need to be saying, “Lord, I want to be like you.” “Lord, I just want to hang around in Your presence. I want to pick up Your habits and attitudes.”
Whether it’s being humble towards God, or in the church, it means that I take my eyes off of myself. That’s what true ministry is all about. How do I view others around me.
Too often we want people to see how great we are. “Look at the wonderful things I’m doing for God.” We try to make an impression.
Then there are the others who think that it’s spiritual to always be putting themselves down. “I’m not mature enough. I don’t know the Bible well enough. God could never use me.” In reality, this is just another way to call attention to yourself.
I need to learn to exalt others. I must start to see the value God places on the people around me.
That’s what true humility is all about. It has nothing to do with putting myself down or trying to get others to believe that I’m a nobody.
A humble lifestyle means that I take my eyes off myself and focus on the Lord and those He has brought into my life.
Question: What needs to change in order to pursue humility?
© 2023 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 