The Feel Of Humility - The Humility Project for Fathers

“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” (Luke 22:24, ESV)

You would think that humility would be natural. We are all under someone or something—laws, magistrates, taxes, or even church leaders. And God is over us and over them. The life and gifts we have are from him. We have no reason to boast. But humility certainly was not natural for Jesus’ disciples. After walking with him for three years, their question about who was the greatest was at the top of their list. They even argued about it during the last meal they would have with Jesus before his crucifixion. Pride was natural to them, until everything changed.

The disciples were transformed in a moment. They witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection, and the Spirit of Christ came on them to stay. The path in front of them was the way of a humble servant, and they were overjoyed. It was humanity as it was always intended to be. It was the abundant life. Humility is not getting lower—it lives dependent on the God of life. Once we get the knack of it, it is natural and good.

Think for a moment about what humility before God feels like and what it can look like in your relationships:

• You talk to God more often. Prayer is a gauge for humility.
• You can identify one area of sin that the Spirit has shown you, and you think this is a good thing.
• You ask God for help. You acknowledge that you are poor and needy before him, and he cares for you.
• When you ask God for help, you naturally ask for prayer from other people. Your prayer requests will be more vulnerable and honest.
• You give thanks to the Lord for what he has done for you in his death and resurrection. You have received a great gift from God.
• You notice when you complain. “I deserve” is hidden in it. As you develop new skills in humility, you will talk to God about what bothers you. A bad complaint is when you just complain. A good complaint is when you speak your complaint to the Lord.
• You can feel inadequate and be okay with it. Humility untethers you from resumes and today’s failures. You do not have to be someone in the eyes of others. You are a mere human, and you can talk to Jesus about your weaknesses.
• You see the possibilities for being more settled in who you are and who you are not. You are okay with the idea of not being somebody special.
• You listen more carefully to sermons. Humility listens to God and others and knows it has much to learn.
• You sing a little louder during worship. You are less concerned that others will hear you.
• You actually believe that confessing sins is really good. Hard, but good.
• You have asked your child’s forgiveness.
• You have asked your spouse’s forgiveness, even before she asks to be forgiven.
• You have talked to the Lord about your troubles and hardships.
• You are willing to speak about hard things—you aren’t concerned that you will seem weak in what you say.
• Confidence grows. You rest in God more than your resume or the opinions of others, and his steadfast love is a solid foundation.

Five devotional readings about humility. You did it. You have now joined with men through the history of the Christian church who invite you to make the humility project a style of life. The reliable signs on the way are “listen to God,” “wisely love others,” “when lost, confess one sin.” Your mind will be less full of yourself and have more room for others. When you get the knack of it, it will be a very fine walk.