Humility In Faith

vs. arrogance

Recognizing the people and factors that have shaped my life

To practice Humility, I will:

give credit to others
admit mistakes
ask for help when I need it
realize my way is not the only way
think of myself less often

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Love with Humility

By Rev. Dr. Roger Braun, Retired Methodist Minister

I suppose if you asked anyone to say what would be the one basic character of Jesus, they would answer with “love.” Except I see a different basic character for Jesus: humility. I have been around people long enough to change my perspective about Jesus because people can’t love like Jesus until they first have humility. Only after all arrogance has been eliminated from the human heart and replaced with humility can people then walk in the steps of Jesus. Arrogant people put themselves and their needs first; humble people put others and their needs first.

Philippians 2:3 states. “But in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Since Jesus is the embodiment of God and Jesus was foremost humble, then humility is our basic nature.

The greatest example is the life and teachings of Jesus. As the Savior, Jesus chose a life marked by simplicity, service, and closeness to the poor and marginalized. Rather than seeking status or power, Jesus took on the form of a servant and a path of obedience and lowliness.

Philippians 2:5-8 states it clearly: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being in the same nature of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but made himself nothing.” In other words, Jesus gave up the glory of heaven and came to earth in physical form to save humanity from sin and death. Jesus was putting others before himself.

Humility itself has its own rewards. Arrogant people will fail and fall, while humble people will be honored. Jesus promised in Matthew 23:12: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Jesus taught that “the last shall be first and the first shall be last.” In the Kingdom of God, things are opposite from the kingdom of the world, for in the Kingdom of God, “the meek will inherit the world.” In all my years, I have discovered over and over again that it is the humble people who have impressed and inspired me. In the humble people, I have seen the image of Christ most clearly. Arrogant people do not do that for me. I see no light of Jesus and no Christian love from them. It is the humble people who will change the world for Christ Jesus.