The Bible is packed full of lessons and instructions that teach how Christians should live. But with over 23,000 verses making up the Bible somethings seem to get lost in the shuffle. While we often do a lot right, many of us often slip in a few key areas. Sadly it is becoming apparent that one of the core elements, possibly one of the most important ingredients of Christianity is missing. Causing the struggle of faith we have today. That ingredient is Humility.
Humility is a modest or low view of one’s own importance. With the idea of self-importance being pushed on our society, thanks to social media, television, and pretty much every other form of media, humble people are quickly becoming a thing of the past. This is not how it should be for the Children of God. The Bible has a very strong option of humility and teaches that the followers of Christ are to be humble. The passage of scripture that sticks out the most in regards to our call to be humble is Philippians 2:3-5.
Philippians 2:3-5 (KJV)
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
While I believe the point can be made clear through the King James Version. I also want to include another translation to break this section of scripture down to a very basic level.
Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
As you can see from that scripture, humility should be one of the core elements of the Christian lifestyle. Just as it was at the core of Jesus’s life. He constantly humbled himself in the presence of others. Take a moment to really let that sink in. The King of kings, Lord of lords, the bodily form of an invisible God humbled Himself. He treated others as better than Himself even though there was or never will be a greater person to walk this earth.
Examples of Jesus’s Humility
John 13:12-16 (KJV)
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Matthew 20:27-28 (KJV)
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV)
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Humility is the Key!
Do you want to be lifted up?
James 4:10 (KJV)
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Matthew 23:12 (KJV)
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 18:4 (KJV)
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Do you want to receive grace from God?
James 4:6 (KJV)
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 (KJV)
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humility is the key to the Christian lifestyle. By living a humble lifestyle we are stepping into a realm of unlimited possibility. A humble lifestyle will empower us to fulfill the call placed on every one of our lives. Which is to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
A hateful self-centered attitude will not draw people to the church. In fact, it will always lead people away. If you truly want to bring people to a right relationship with God then you must put on the ways of Jesus. Which includes being humble and putting the needs of others before our own needs!
Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Additionally, without humility, you will not be able to live out those other personality traits mentioned in the verse above. For instance, if you are not able to see others as better than yourself chances are you do not feel compassion or even love those you do not know. Humility is the building block upon which all other Christian characteristics are built off.
Humility is Necessary
It is possible that someone may be thinking “Okay so Jesus was humble and scripture says we are rewarded for being humble. But is it really necessary to live a humble life?” While more may be said on this at a later date the simple answer is yes. While walking in humility may not be required for salvation it is never mentioned as a suggestion.
In fact, when you read descriptions of the Christian lifestyle in the Bible they are never presented as optional. You seem to have only two options either live a life that fits the descriptions presented in the Bible and be called a Christian. Or don’t follow that which is laid out in the scripture and don’t be known as a Christian. You cannot go through the Bible and only live according to that which you like. It is all or nothing. So humble yourself and live a life worthy of being called a Christian!
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