As Was His Custom: Humility
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 14:11
There are many stories in the Bible of people who forgot how to be humble. You can probably think of several from Sunday school class. One in particular stands out to me today. It’s the story of Joseph in Genesis. In case you are unfamiliar or maybe a little foggy, let’s recap.
Joseph was the youngest and favorite of Jacob’s twelve sons. Jacob was not shy about expressing his favoritism, either. He even gave Joseph a robe of many colors. This angered his brothers to the point that they hated him. Joseph had a dream that one day his brothers would bow down to him. Rather than choosing humility and keeping quiet, he decided to gloat to his brothers. Unfortunately for Joseph, his brothers didn’t take this news too well and decided to murder him. They ended up changing their minds and sold him into slavery instead, though.
Joseph could have avoided so much trouble in his life had he chosen to be humble.
What is Biblical Humility?
Humility is an attitude. The same attitude of Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
Humility is the opposite of pride. (Proverbs 11:2)
Humility is submission. (1 Peter 5:5)
Humility is having patience with one another. (Ephesians 4:2)
Humility is serving others without expectation of return. (Philippians 2:3)
Humility is fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 22:4)
Humility is having a teachable heart. (Psalm 25:9)
The story of Joseph comes full circle and is one of redemption. After he suffered many things, he humbled his heart and surrendered to God. He ended up as second-in-command under Pharaoh and had great influence. His brothers came to him during a famine to ask for help. This time they had to show humility. Jacob’s family was restored to one another. All of this was only possible with God’s grace and humbled hearts. This story could have easily been very different without humility.
This paraphrased story from the Old Testament is just one example in the Bible of humility. In the New Testament, Jesus sets the standard for us. Humility is a habit for Him, and He calls us into it as well.
Let’s look at some ways Jesus practiced this custom in His life.
How did Jesus live out humility?
He came to earth as a baby. (Luke 2:4-7)
He was baptized just like everyone else. (Mark 1:9-11)
He was tempted like we are. (Matthew 4:1-11)
He didn’t consider Himself equal to God. (Philippians 2:6-7)
He spent time with the outcasts. (Matthew 9:9-13)
He healed, ministered, and served others. (Mark 5:1-20, Luke 4:38-41, John 6:1-14)
He washed others’ feet. (John 13:1)
He retreated for prayer. (Mark 1:35)
He gave His life for ours. (Luke 23:33-49)
As we look at His life, Jesus is the truest example of this. He came as a helpless baby, served and healed and loved on people His entire life, and then laid down His life for all of humanity, even the ones who hated Him. He came with no expectations of what we could give Him in return because there was nothing we could do to earn His love and salvation.
What are some ways we can humble ourselves?
As women, we have probably all experienced what it’s like to serve over and over without being recognized or appreciated. When we fold the laundry or find our husband’s keys for the millionth time, drive the kids to practice, file yet another report, or attend a meeting that could be an email, it sometimes gets exhausting and difficult to keep going. This is where humility becomes real. We must remember that God sees it all and He will exalt the humble (Luke 14:11) when the time is right.
Ask God to humble your heart.
Give praise to God for all He has done for you.
Show gratitude to those around you.
Be teachable. Recognize that you do not know everything.
Serve others: in your church, your home, your job, your community.
Pray for wisdom and apply it to your life.
Submit to God’s will for your life.
Obey His voice when He calls you.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:1-11 ESV