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To many humility has become an old-fashioned thing and it even makes one look among peers as a weakling. For instance, gone are the days when a child would stand up so that an old man would have a seat in the bus or a train. Nowadays the child feels that it’s his or her right to seat down while the elder stands up.
Nowadays you have to bribe a child with a sweet or something if you want to send the child somewhere but in the olden day that wasn’t so because the children were so humble and willing to do anything they were told by their elders.
Nowadays people easily get offended when you don’t address them by their titles, you don’t acknowledge their status in the society and other little things like this, all because they are not humble.
No wonder many people nowadays are puffed up by their positions and titles. But we need to learn that Jesus always had the nature of God, but he did not think that he should try to remain equal with God by force (Philippians 2:6). That is what I call true humility.
Brethren humility is vital for leadership, on an almost daily basis, we find ourselves going through situations that test our pride, ego, and patience, but above all else, our ability to stay humble as Christians. Remember that humility is a quality that not all of us possess, but all should most definitely work toward owning. Humility is not a character trait to develop; it’s the natural by-product of being with Jesus.
1 John 2:6 Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived.
John 13:15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
Remember that Jesus was humble so we should be humble too so as to please Him and that is the reason we should learn from Him how to be humble.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Jesus is describing himself and reminding us that this is what we should learn
David and Moses enjoyed the benefits of being humble
Numbers 12:3 Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the humble (meek or gentle), for they will inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:11 but the humble will possess the land and enjoy prosperity and peace.
Due to Moses being so humble, he led his people out of Egypt, and they went on to inherit the land of Canaan.
Acts 13:22 God removed Saul and made David their king. God spoke favorably about David. He said, ‘I have found that David, son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.‘
Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
What proves that we are humble enough is how we face both defeat and success with grace, Afterall Humility doesn’t deny our strengths; it’s honest about our weaknesses, especially when our rank increases. Humility can change our lives and influence those around us in a beautiful way. Most times, God does some things to make us humble, other things to keep us humble, and yet others to make sure we are still humble.
Don’t let God remind you how you spoke, walked and did things when you were humble this was what God told to King Saul through prophet Samuel in the book of 1 Samuel 15:17 Is it not true that even though you were small (insignificant) in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel,”
This was what God told King Saul because Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up for himself a monument [commemorating his victory], according to 1 Samuel 15:12.
The humility of the heart is the first step in our journey of salvation. Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. Do you plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility, and you will go beyond the sky.” So, humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you in honor Peter 5:6″.
True humility is staying teachable, regardless of how much you already know. Remember to learn one must be humble, and life is one of your most excellent teachers. But your number one enemy to achieving this is pride.
James 4:6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Always remember what the Bible teaches us in the book of Proverbs 16:18, “Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.”
Pride makes us artificial, while humility makes us real. In the sense that if you find yourself most of the time thinking all about your glory, then pride has crept into your life; You need to Humble yourself and start thinking about God’s glory and nothing else.
Have you ever heard a person remind you who he is and what he or she can do to you if you don’t change the way you are addressing him or her?
For instance, in the Bible in the book of Daniel 4:30, we see the case of King Nebuchadnezzar who said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
Pride is a disease that causes us to be concerned with who is right, while humility is its cure, which is concerned with what is right. Before you boost anything, you have, you should recognize that everything you have is with the blessing of God and never gets tired of thanking Him.
Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
So, we see that according to Daniel 4:33, “King Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox…”
A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant
Lastly, you should always remember If you have seen farther than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. So, be kind enough to let others stand upon your shoulders to see where you have seen with the help of others.
Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Some Keys To Help You Cultivate Humility In Your Daily Life.
Practice self-reflection.
Take time to reflect on your thoughts, words, and actions with honesty and self-awareness.
Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, and strive to learn from your mistakes and shortcomings.
Listen more. Speak less. (James 1:19)
Cultivate the habit of active listening by giving others your full attention and listening with an open mind and heart.
Resist the urge to interrupt or dominate conversations, and instead, seek to understand others’ perspectives and experiences.
Seek feedback.
Invite feedback from others about your performance, behavior, and interactions. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for self-improvement and growth.
Acknowledge your limitations.
Recognize that you don’t have all the answers and that there is always room for growth and learning. Be humble enough to admit when you don’t know something and seek guidance and advice from others when needed.
Celebrate and appreciate others’ successes.
Practice genuine humility by celebrating the achievements and successes of others. Offer congratulations and support without jealousy or comparison, and recognize the contributions of others to their accomplishments.
If you see someone doing better than you, or someone being good at something, you must give them a compliment for their work. Understand how they are different from you and try to learn something from everyone, who you meet in your life.
Help others.
Look for opportunities to serve and support others without seeking recognition or praise (Matthew 6:1). Practice acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion in your interactions with others, and strive to make a positive difference in their lives.
Help other people as you would have helped yourself because it is the right thing to do. Helping people in need will also make you appreciate what you have even more. A big part of being humble is respecting others, and part of respecting others is helping them.
Practice gratitude.
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by expressing appreciation for the blessings in your life. Recognize and acknowledge the contributions of others to your success, and express gratitude regularly to those around you.
Admit mistakes and apologize.
Be willing to admit when you’ve made a mistake or hurt someone with your words or actions. Take responsibility for your behavior. Apologize sincerely, and make amends to the best of your ability.
Avoid bragging (Stay humble in success)
It’s okay to have healthy self-esteem and to feel proud of your accomplishments, but nobody likes it when someone constantly tries to bring attention to themselves and their own achievements. If you feel like you really have done something great, chances are people will have already begun to notice that, and they will come to respect you even more for your humility.
Maintain humility even in times of success and achievement. Remember that success is often the result of teamwork, support, and opportunities provided by others, and stay grounded in gratitude and humility.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
You should not compare yourself to others. Every person born in this world has their talents and capabilities. Every individual is unique. Appreciate people for who they are as human beings, not for their skills and appearance in relation to yours. When you focus your energy on improving yourself, instead of comparing you to everyone else, you’ll find that it is much easier to make yourself better, since you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’re better or worse than anyone.
Lead by example.
Be a role model of humility in your words and actions. Lead with integrity, kindness, and humility, and inspire others to cultivate these qualities in themselves.
Beware of pride because God hates it according to Proverbs 6:16-17a: “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look.
Pastor Nathaniel
