Do you give to everyone what you owe? Do you give respect to whom respect is due and honor to whom honor? (Romans 13:7, WEB) When we rise from our seats to greet a newcomer, help an elderly person across the street, care for our parents when they are in need, and abide by the laws of our government, we show our humility, giving to others what are rightfully due: love, honor, and respect.
True humility comes from the heart. Only when we have a humble heart will we able to reflect humility through our actions. How can we learn to be more humble? We can learn to be humble by following in the footsteps of a humble person. If you wish to seek a role model whom you can mirror, look no further--look at the supreme example of humility: Jesus Christ.
Now, let us briefly examine Jesus' life and works to see how we can learn to be humble, both inwardly and outwardly. This passage in the Bible sums up his humility:
Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5, 6-8)
Valuable lessons we can learn from this passage:
1) Regardless of how rich or how famous we may be, we should never think too highly of ourselves and refuse to lower ourselves in order to help others in need. Even though Jesus was very rich, he gave it all up and became poor for our sake, as Paul wrote, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) Jesus is the very Son of God; prior to coming to Earth for his ministry, he lived with his Father, Jehovah, in heaven, surrounded by angels. He had everything in the world. Yet, he gave it all up and came to Earth. Jehovah miraculously transferred him into the womb of Mary, and he became the human son of a poor carpenter named Joseph. Because of his sacrifice, we have become rich through him, for now every one of us has a chance of an everlasting life with God as long as we believe in him and follow his commandments, which are to love God and love others as we love ourselves.
2) Our lives should be lived for the benefit of others, not only for ourselves. Jesus knew that the two greatest commandments are "love God" and "love others as we love ourselves." Thus, he fulfilled both commandments by dying for us. Would you risk your life for a stranger, or for someone you don't like? Truly, one will hardly die for others, even a righteous man. (Romans 5:7) But while we were murderers, adulterers, liars, cheaters, and rebels, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8)
3) We must owe no one anything but love, even if that means obedience unto death. Because of his undying love for us, Jesus endured a terrible death. He was betrayed by his disciple Judas, denied thrice by his disciple Peter, captured in the middle of the night by a mob with torches, accused of many falsehoods, spat at, beaten with fists and a reed, slapped, mocked and insulted, forced to carry his instrument of execution to his execution place at Calvary; and finally, nailed to a stauros (Greek word for "stake" or "pole," not necessarily a "cross") under the blazing sun, and left there to die a slow and agonizing death--all for our sake. And on top of it all, he never opened his mouth to defend himself, nor did he show any hatred to his accusers and murderers. On the contrary, he asked Jehovah to forgive them: "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
What an epitome of meekness and self-sacrificing love! If Jesus could abandon his heavenly home to die for us, surely we can do the very least by respecting our neighbors and lending a helping hand!
During his earthly ministry, Jesus shared with us the key principle of humility. He said:
"If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people." (Matthew 20:26-28, CEV)
"Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else." (Mark 10:44, NLT)
If we truly desire to be great, we must humble ourselves. Meekness enables us to become low enough so we can be reached. How can little children reach out to you if you were a giant ten feet tall? So humility allows us to serve others whole-heartedly. Ultimately, humility allows us to serve our Master: Jesus Christ. Certainly, the least we could do is return his unconditional love, right?
So next time when you feel you are "too good" to show respect and honor to those "lower" than you, remember what Jesus went through for you. We should count others better than ourselves, "not just looking to [our] own things, but ... also to the things of others." (Philippians 3, 4) If you need help to be more humble, ask God for Him to develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit in you; the fruit is Christ-like qualities that include meekness. Imagine having the mind of Jesus! What treasure that will be!
Dr. Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled award-winning author with twenty-seven book awards, proclaimer of Jehovah God's good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, Summa Cum Laude (Highest Honor) graduate with Doctor of Divinity, motivational speaker, self-empowerment expert, poet; author of nine books (including "Do You Love Jehovah?"), contributor to twenty-two, and an editor of one; and a parental rights advocate, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. Back then, she knew only her ABCs and very simple English; other than that, her book knowledge was non-existent. However, after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. http://www.shirleycheng.com
Do you have questions about the Bible? Something you don't understand? Do you need a bit of guidance in developing a relationship with Jehovah? Then Shirley would like to help you! Please contact her via her site at http://www.shirleycheng.com and she would be more than glad to do her best to answer your questions! Never hesitate to ask questions, for no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.