Humble

We know that a fundamental Christian virtue is humility. We know that Christ humbled Himself and we ought to do the same. And, if we're honest, we admit that we think that it's a lousy command and we aren't really interested in following that one. It is a violation of basic human nature that tells us to look out for #1 and a contradiction of everything we see around us. Few there are that are truly humble and, while we almost universally admire those few, we'd prefer not to be one of them. Here's the problem. If it is true that "whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked" (1 John 2:6), we're going to need to pick a different attitude.

Paul says, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" and goes on to describe a particular mindset -- humility (Php 2:5-8). Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:29). He was the Lamb of God who went meekly to His death, the personification of humility. If we are show ourselves to be His followers, humility is not an option; it is a mandate.

So how do we do that?

Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:29). What do we learn about humility from that? First, Jesus -- our Lord and Savior, our guide, our example, the One we follow -- is humble in heart. If we want to be Christians -- Christ followers -- so should we. But He doesn't simply make a statement about Himself. He gives a direction. 1) "Take My yoke upon you" and 2) "Learn from Me." So, it takes work (yoke) but we learn it from Him. Just as important, a yoke is a tool that binds two together to do a task. Jesus is there. We learn from Him by doing for Him with Him. So it's not ME doing it, it's WE, and it's not on my own. He aids and guides. The outcome is a bit odd to the natural ear. "You will find rest for your souls." "Come and work," Jesus says. "Learn from Me how to be humble and gentle. It will give you rest."

Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matt 16:24). That is, if we want to be a Jesus follower ("come after Me"), this is necessary. Step One: Deny yourself. There you have it; the first step to humility. The primary mindset. Deny self. Step Two: Take up your cross. Die to self. Now, with self denied and self crucified, where do we go? Wherever He leads.

This theme -- humility -- is throughout Scripture, but perhaps the clearest description is in Philippians.

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. (Php 2:3-8)

Unity is the goal (Php 2:1-2). Humility is the theme. Humility is described as no selfish ambitions or conceit. Humility is described as "count others more significant than yourselves." That's interesting. It does not say, "Count yourself as worthless." It doesn't demean you; it elevates them. "I'm important; they are more." Humility is described as looking out for the interests of others. But, ultimately, our prime description of humility is our Lord Jesus. "Be like Him," Paul urges. What did He surrender to be humble? The immediate presence of the Father. The unmitigated glory of being God the Son. And how far did He go to do it? He became a servant to the point of death. "Have that mind in yourself," Paul urges. "Follow Christ in that way."

Can you imagine? How would our relationships change if we lived that way? What would our marriages look like if we lived that way? What would our conversation sound like if we thought that way? How would our priorities change? How would our motivations change? How would our conflicts change? How would our entire mode of operation change?

We Christians look around and see things we know to be wrong among ourselves. There are divorces and conflicts, hard feelings and anger, selfishness and dissension, greediness and division. None of that makes any sense in light of Jesus's clear commands to learn humility from Him. Not one iota is reasonable for followers of Christ if we're supposed to have the mind of Christ in ourselves. Humility is hard, no doubt, but it's not optional. We need to learn it. We need to team up with Christ and practice it. We need to deny self, die to self, and be living examples of our Savior. Too much of the time it doesn't look like we're doing well with that, and Jesus seems to consider it basic, fundamental. We need to turn (repent) and pursue His command and His example. And, look, isn't "rest for your souls" at a premium in today's world?