Humility

1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility is one of those words which is often misunderstood as being weak or mousy, when in fact humbleness is a position of strength.

Webster’s 1828 American dictionary of the English Language defines humility like this:

HUMIL'ITY, noun [Latin humilitas.]

“freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth.”

The following is a biblical description of humility by Doug Britton LMFT which is an excellent study of humility:

"God and humility — The meaning of humility in the Bible

Many people have the wrong idea about God, the Bible and humility, or being humble. They think being humble means groveling in front of others or thinking we're no good and others are better.

That's not what the Bible says. God says when you are humble, you are free from pride and arrogance. You know that in your flesh you are inadequate, yet you also know who you are in Christ.

You don't need to defend yourself when you understand what the Bible says about humility, for you know who you are in Christ. You can be a peacemaker without needing to fight for your rights. You can walk humbly in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in your own strength.

Godly humility is being comfortable with who you are in the Lord and therefore putting others first. The picture of humility in the Bible is one of a strong person who loves others, not someone who is a wimp.

Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)

³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Humility also is recognizing that you need God’s help, knowing you can’t truly succeed in your own strength. It is thanking God for your talents and gifts, and giving him credit for your accomplishments.

It is being comfortable with who you are in Christ and seeking to build others up, not yourself. It is gratefully walking in God’s grace, love, and forgiveness.

Matthew 11:29 (NKJV)

²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

In the Bible, Jesus gives us a good example of humility in action. Although he was the son of God, he was gentle and humble--and he was strong.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Humility in Action

Many people misunderstand the Bible, God, and humility. They think humility means being weak or passive. That's not God's message to us. The following statements show the power in humility.

You can defuse arguments when you are humble.

You don't need to stand up for yourself in an angry manner. And you don't have to win every argument.

Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)

¹⁵ A soft answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

You can handle unfair treatment peacefully when you are humble.

You can respond to unfair treatment without becoming bitter. Godly humility means you do not feel a need for vengeance or revenge.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV)

³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

You do not have to put on a "false front" when you are humble.

When you understand God and humility, you don't need to act like a big shot. The better you know God, the less you have to prove.

You can eat "humble pie" without being crushed when you are humble.

When you are humble, you can respond to and learn from criticism without becoming defensive—whether it is deserved or not deserved. Likewise, you can be aware of your failures without being emotionally devastated.

You can ask for forgiveness when you are humble.

Even if you think you are only one percent wrong, you can easily apologize for what you did wrong.

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

You can talk with the right attitude if you are humble. 

You can talk courteously and lovingly, regardless of the situation—even if you need to be firm or take strong action.

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)

²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Being humble does not mean being a wimp

As I already wrote, many people misunderstand humility. The following statements correct three inaccurate pictures of humility.

Bible-based humility does not mean groveling.

When I humble myself, I feel strong in the Lord. I don't need to be defensive.

Bible-based humility does not mean being unaware of your gifts or calling.

Although we should avoid self-pride, godly humility does not mean we should pretend we are unaware of the gifts God has given us. The key is to remember that they are from God.

Ephesians 3:8 (NKJV)

⁸ To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ

2 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

Bible-based humility does not mean we should never speak directly.

When God says to be humble, he lets us know we must examine our motives and attitudes. We also must examine how we respond to others.

But there are times when we need to take strong action. Here are two examples of taking strong action while maintaining a humble spirit:

Jesus was meek of spirit, yet he chased the money changers out of the temple in Mark 11:15-16 and similarly in Matthew 21:12.

Mark 11:15-16 (NKJV)

¹⁵ So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. ¹⁶ And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.

As an employer, I can discipline or fire someone, yet do so quietly and gently.

God and humility — Enjoy the power in humility

You will usually be more successful when you practice what the Bible says about God and humility than if you are pushy or arrogant. (When you are humble, you are likely to have more influence than when you fight abrasively.)
 Even if you don't achieve the results you hoped for, you have the joy and pleasure of having acted in a godly manner. When you understand the meaning of humility in the Bible and put it into practice, you are a winner—even if you do not "win."" [Reposted from “The Meaning of Humility in the Bible” by Doug Britton,LMFT (c) 2008, 2014 ] 

Doug Britton has brought out that humility is not from a position of being powerless, but from a position of power by knowing who you are in Christ and acting or responding from that position.  It starts with our attitude in recognizing the godly perspective. It is Christ within us who motivates us to serve out of humbleness, not our own self-driven desires for power or position where we become disconnected and separated from the life giving spirit of God.  God's word calls us to continually crucify the flesh, and when we respond to the call of humbleness there comes an awareness that we are changing and becoming more Christ-like in our responses, that is if we allow the Holy Spirit to shape us and mold us into the men and women God intends us to be.

Humbleness is a trait which we all need in greater measure that the character of Christ may come forth from within us, in this way we may express gratitude for the person or nature of Christ becoming evident in our lives.

Blessings to you.

Stephen Barnett

God is good all the time—all the time God is good!

Humble King

Words and Music by Brenton Brown

     O kneel me down again here at your feet

     Show me how much you love humility

     O Spirit be the star that leads me to

     The humble heart of love I see in you

     You are the God of the broken

     The friend of the weak

     You wash the feet of the weary

     Embrace the ones in need

     I want to be like you Jesus

     To have this heart in me

     You are the God of the humble

     You are the humble king

CCLI# 2650388

© 1999 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire) (Admin. by Vineyard Music UK)

The above lyrics are copyrighted by the respective artist(s) and are presented here for educational purposes only and not for profit.

Doug Britton’s origional material can be viewed on his website via this link