In the
person of Jesus Christ one can see the meaning of true humility. It is
unfortunate that some have a wrong concept of this admirable virtue.
Humility is not an inferiority complex that causes one to shrink from
action. It is not being shy or embarrassed in the presence of others.
Nor is humility a reflection of weakness in one's character; rather, it
is a sign of strength. It is not the lack of firmness in addressing an
issue.
Yet its
firmness does not exhibit the arrogance and pomposity which sometimes
accompany dealing with others.
In Jesus we
can see that humility is a lowliness of spirit that is deliberately
adopted, taking a subordinate position voluntarily when an opportunity
for service appears. Lowliness of spirit and the willingness to serve
cannot be found in one whose vision has been blurred by a distorted
sense of his own importance. Pride and ego are the opposites of
humility.
Jesus Describes Himself
The Savior
declared to his disciples, "I am in the midst of you as he that serveth"
(Lk. 22:27).
"I am meek and lowly in heart," he stated in
Matthew 11:29.
The majestic Lord and Master of all, the Creator of the universe, the
eternal God in human form casting himself in the role of a humble,
lowly servant! It seems incredible that the king is serving his
servants! This is the One who came "not to be ministered unto, but to
minister"
(Mk. 10:45).
His entire life and teaching show those words not to be hollow
expressions, but true descriptions of his ministry.
Humility Manifested
In the New
Testament portrait of Jesus one can easily see the many indications of
humility and service.
1. Observe
the total absence of the pomp, splendor and glitter which human pride
would have used to impress the world. He was of humble circumstance in
his birth
(Lk. 2:7).
He was
brought up in the home of a carpenter
(Mk. 6:3).
He was
some-times even without a place to call home or a place to lay his head
(Lk. 9:58).
Our Lord
willingly accepted such a lowly position. It may be in our day that the
trappings of affluence and the desire to make a display before worldly
men get in the way of our being like Jesus in serving others.
2. Note the
Savior's willingness of talk to the "untouchables" about spiritual
concerns. Many would not have condescended to teach such individuals.
Jesus was not too proud to teach the Samaritan women some-thing that the
self-righteous would have avoided at all costs
(Jn. 4:7-9).
Jesus had time for conversation with the women taken in the act of
adultery when certain hypocrites brought her to him
(Jn. 8:3-11).
He was not ashamed to be found eating with publicans and sinners
(Matt. 9:11,12).
Let us learn from the lowly Jesus not to be so selective about those
whom we are willing to teach. Let us learn from him that "the blessed
gospel is for all."
3. Consider
the fact that Jesus could make time for little children, even when his
disciples considered it something of an imposition on his time
(Matt. 19:13,14).
Earlier he had called to to him a little child, using him as an example
of that humility essential for anyone who would enter the kingdom
(Matt. 18:1-4).
A self-seeking person on the lookout for things to promote his own
interests has no time for those who cannot do any-thing for him.
4. Think of
the kind of person Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount as being
"blessed. "Notice how much relates to the disposition we are discussing.
The truly "blessed" (happy) man Jesus envisioned included "the poor in
spirit," "those that mourn," "the meek," "the merciful," "the pure in
heart," "the peacemakers," and such like
(Matt. 5:3-12).
Only lowly-minded individuals would be concerned with those qualities.
Those who promote today's culture of self-love, self-esteem and
"do-you-own thing philosophy are not comfortable with the humble servant
attitude Jesus required of his disciples.
Paul Uses Jesus As Our Example
When Paul
urged the saints at Philippi to develop righteous attitudes toward one
another, he said, ". . . in lowliness of mind each counting other better
than himself, not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you
also to the things of others"
(Phil. 2:3,4).
Immediately he cited the "mind" of Christ as an example of one who
humbled himself to do what was in the best interest of others. He
"humbled himself... even unto death, yea the death of the cross"
(Phil. 2:8).
When the
apostle was seeking to stir the Christians at Corinth to per-form a
service toward their needy brethren in Jerusalem, he reminded them of
what Jesus had done for them. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he be-came poor,
that ye through his poverty might become rich"
(2 Cor. 8:9).
The mind of this humble servant moved him to act in behalf of lost men.
The "richest" Being in the universe voluntarily became "poor' to bring
"true riches" to those whom sin had rendered destitute.
What Should This Mean To Us?
Jesus has
set the example. His disciples follow him in manifesting a servant
attitude. Let us never be too proud to serve where we are needed. Let us
avoid the self-righteousness that would prevent our counting "other
better than himself." Let no lost per-son be deemed so far beneath our
dignity that we will exclude him from the number who need to be taught
the saving truth. If the King of Kings and Lord of Lord could humbly
serve others, how can his followers do otherwise?
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