"All Christians begin their adventure of faith by seeking a new self-image, with the imitation of Christ as the primary goal of life, Romans 8:28, 29. This process of transformation of character is accomplished through a central focus on humility.
Christ died unto himself, denied himself completely, to carry out a mission for God.
However, just as Christ was exalted for his humility, so his followers shall be lifted up for humbling themselves.
Humility was a major emphasis of Christ’s teaching.
Luke 14:7–11: So he told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; And he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 5:3,5; 11:29; Luke 9:48.
The Christian experience becomes beautiful and blessed, when we realize how God is everything in life. Then, embracing a sense of being nothing to make way for God to be all seems completely natural. For Christians, this awareness of the nothingness of ourselves to experience the richness of life through God is the essence of humility.
Humility is the mark of being a true disciple of Christ. It is God-like to humble oneself to be a servant to all. As pride caused the fall, Christ came to bring humility back to the human nature. As humility formed the basis of Christ’s relationship to God, so it must be at the foundation of our fellowship with him. It is a requirement of being in his presence and a essential part of loving others and knowing effective faith.
Many believers experience Christ without true humility. Many church leaders are actually proud people, without a proper understanding of the nature of humility or its importance to being Christian. Thus, very often Christians are not who they should be, nor do they know how to practice humility.
Although Christ’s disciples were with him for three years, they were slow in understanding his instruction on humility.
Some people try to learn humility by staying preoccupied with their sin, as others frequently reference their sinfulness to try to disguise their pride, but the apostle Paul regarded himself as a sinner only in emphasizing the greatness of God’s grace, and he also made reference to his faultless life.
Many believers only know a superficial sense of humility.
1. They struggle to understand how they can be humble, when they are so gifted, when they are so obviously far beyond where other people are in life.
2. Often their attitude is unconscious, but still expressed in their way of speaking to and dealing with others.
3. They are too self-focused to understand how in reality they are nothing in themselves and to have the desire to let God be everything.
Then, how does the Christian acquire true humility?
Humility must be the object of special desire and made a part of our character through prayer, faith, study, and discipline.
Pride is an essential part of the Adamic nature, a terrible inner force with a Satanic origin. We must depend on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to acquire humility.
We must acknowledge that there‘s nothing good in ourselves, except as we are a servant unto God, Mark 10:18; Romans 7:18. We must let our natural self die in order to become a vessel to the glory of God.
Thirst for God and be possessed by the Holy Spirit. Death of the natural person apart from God within us is the mark of humility. When that happens, always esteeming the other person as being better will come about with ease, Philippians 2:3"
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Bibliography
1. Andrew Murray, Humility — New Kingston: Whitaker House, 1982.
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