Embracing Humility

Psalm 138

Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. (Psalm 138:6)

IN THE DOMINANT CULTURE OF the Roman Empire, pride was considered a virtue. The humble were seen as weak, and the proud were admired for being assertive and maximizing their self-interests. So when many pagans became Christians, they had quite an adjustment to make. They learned that humility is a virtue in the Kingdom of God and that God resists the proud. His grace comes most easily to those who recognize their pride and do whatever they can to get rid of it.

Pride has made something of a comeback in our culture. Though many of us are turned off by arrogant athletes or performers, others laud them for their honesty—for not feigning humility and for having self-confidence. We’ve been told that it’s not arrogance “if you can back it up,” even though arrogance has little to do with truth or falsehood. The real issue is thinking too much of oneself and thinking too little of others. Humility honors others and seeks their interests; pride turns inward and thinks primarily of self. It has become a rather popular attitude, and its acceptability is growing.

Fortunately, God has not given us the mission of cutting down the proud. In fact, many who display arrogance are actually insecure people who are compensating for past wounds. We first need to see through their hardened veneer and minister to their hearts, but we must also demonstrate the power of humility. That’s a difficult line to walk, but it can change lives. It puts our Kingdom values on display.

This is one of the ways we have been called to live counter to our culture. Embrace it and refuse to be drawn into the competitive, contentious, self-promoting ways of the world. Let Jesus be your model; though he made extravagant claims about who he was, he came primarily to serve. Your influence in the lives of others depends not on whether you can impress them but on whether you can uplift them. Invite people into the Kingdom culture by seeking their well-being.

{Jesus, you laid down your life for me and told me to have the same attitude toward others. Help me live in a spirit of humility, to seek your Kingdom above my own, and to influence lives with the grace you have given me. Amen.