Humility

Lesedauer 4 Minuten

Over the past week I have read the word humility again and again during my quiet Bible reading. That’s why I took a closer look at this topic. What does it mean to be humble and why it is so important to be humble?

The term humility comes from old high German diomuoti (‘willing to serve’, i.e. actually ‘attitude of a servant’). In the Christian context, humility denotes the creature’s attitude towards the Creator. The humble recognizes and freely accepts that there is something higher and unattainable over him. (from Wikipedia)

My thoughts:

A humble person in the christian sense shows the following characteristics

  • he believes that god exists
  • he subordinates himself to this god
  • he is ready to serve
  • he takes himself back
  • he values others more than himself
  • he recognizes his weaknesses and can accept them
  • he can accept help from God and other people
  • he can let go
  • he can confidently put his life in God’s hands and give up control
  • he does not live by his own strength, God is his strength
  • he does not live for his own honor, he wants to give glory to God with his life

The opposite of humility is pride / arrogance. A proud / haughty person has the following characteristics:

  • he doesn’t need a god, he doesn’t need to believe in a god
  • it is difficult to subordinate himself
  • he thinks more of himself than of others
  • he is proud of his strengths and can hardly accept weakness
  • he wants to do everything on his own, cannot accept outside help
  • instead of letting go, he holds on
  • he wants to have everything under control and has difficulty trusting someone
  • he has to do everything with his own strength and efforts
  • he seeks recognition for his achievements and enjoys being honored by others for it

Pride [from: stolt = splendid, stately] is the feeling of great satisfaction with oneself or with others, a respect for oneself – be it one’s own person, be it in connection with a highly respected or revered “whole”. (from Wikipedia)

Having a humble heart is very important to God, when I read the in Bible about women and men of God they all have one thing in common: humility. An example is Moses, who despite his position, which he received from God, never became arrogant, but always trusted in God, gave him the honor and did not rely on his own strengths and abilities. His own position was never more important to him than the good of others.

I think humility brings us closer to God, pride and arrogance keep us away from him. If I am humble, I know that I need God and I will ask for His help. At the end of my own strength I am ready to live from its strength. I can let go and take myself back. So God has the opportunity to work in me first. On the other hand, if I am proud / haughty, I won’t even ask for help, I try to be strong on my own, I always want to do everything myself and not make myself dependent on someone else. With such a heart, I close the door to God and i am on my own.

I find it liberating to believe in a God who has everything under control so that I can let go and let myself fall into his hand. I don’t have to do everything on my own. I can accept my mistakes and weaknesses knowing that a strong God lives in me and guides me. If I know that I am not perfect myself, I can also accept mistakes and weaknesses of my fellow human beings and not put myself higher than others, I am ready to submit and serve.

“Humility is the only way to learn to respect people” Fred Ammon

However, humility does not mean making yourself small, thinking badly of yourself, devaluing yourself, feeling inferior.

It means knowing who you are in Christ and living through his strength

I found the following Bible-verses speaking of humility:

“Lord, my heart is not proud and my eyes do not look down on others. I am not concerned with things that are too big or too wonderful for me. I am very quiet and safe, like a child with its mother. Yes “Like a child, my soul is in me” Psalm 131: 1

“In all humility and meekness, in patience. One endures the other with love” Ephesians 4: 2

“Do nothing out of self-interest or for the sake of vain honor, but in humility respect one another higher than yourself.” Philippians 2: 3

“Where there is arrogance there is shame;
but wisdom is with the humble. “Proverbs 11: 2

“Be mindful of one another. Do not seek high things, but stick to the low things. Do not think yourself wise.” Romans 12:16

“Humble yourself under the Lord, he will exalt you” James 4:10

“A man’s arrogance humiliates him, but the humble receives honor” Proverbs 29, 23

“The reward of humility and fear of the LORD
is wealth, honor and life “Proverbs 22.4

“Now humble yourself under the mighty hand of God so that he may exalt you in his time” 1. Peter 5,6

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and humble from the heart; you will find rest for your souls. Because my yoke is gentle and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 39-30

“Before a fall, a man’s heart is proud;
and before you come to honor you have to be humble “Proverbs 18:12

“And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them: If anyone wants to be the first, he should be the last of all and all servants.” Mark 9:35

“And what is small in front of the world and what is despised, God has chosen what is nothing so that he can destroy what is something that no man can boast of before God” 1 Corinthians 1: 28-29

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your mind” Proverbs 3: 5

“No longer I live, but Christ in me” Galatians 3:20

“Jesus Christ says: ” My strength is powerful in the weak.” 2 Corinthians 12.9

“I can do everything through him who makes me strong.” Philippians 4:13