"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
Philippians 2:3-4
Success can come at the price of arrogance. With the power we yield the view from the top is tempting. But for how long can we maintain such a lofty position? With my prideful nature, I am the last to preach of being humble. Truth be told each day serves as a reminder of who is truly above all.
Before getting deeper into it, Let's look at one of my favourite humble role models - Saint Paul, the apostle. Once known as Saul, the persecutor of Christians, he later became one of Christ's followers soon after the truth was lit before him. Most of us, stubborn as we can be, have a hard time admitting our faults. Imagine being proven wrong about something you firmly stood by your entire life?
"For I am the least of the apostles, who I am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."
- I Corinthian 15:9
"To me, who I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ"
- Ephesians 3:8
How do we introduce ourselves? Do we start off boasting about our career achievements? My esteem title?
From someone with such greatness, Paul did not boast by introducing himself as "one of the greatest apostles" or one of the "chosen ones". Instead, he introduced himself as Paul, "the prisoner of Christ" (Eph 3:1), "The servant of the Gospel" (Eph 3:7), and "Former persecutor of the church.." (Galatians 1:13,14).
While pride dominates, we are placed on a high pedestal, isolating ourselves from everyone else. We tend to allow our status, titles, and achievements to speak loudly on our behalf. We forget that God's grace is the foundation of our success. We fail to thank our humble beginnings and forget that His love carried us through. But Paul never did.
So does it mean we should hide our achievements and talents? No. Share your talents and achievements, as long as the reason behind doing so is pure and selfless. Mother Teresa once said, "Humility is not hiding talents; the only thing Our Lord asked us to learn was to be meek and humble of heart."
Paul's imprisonment exposed his immense love for Christ and the people he preached. I believe that moment highlighted his Humbling characteristic. Regardless of being chained up in a damp prison cell, he remained joyous, if not more than ever, because preaching the Gospel continued. Rather than envying others for preaching the Gospel on his behalf, with no praise or credit, he was instead joyous and thankful that His mission continued through others. Paul had a purpose and goal, and he never let pride get in. Your end goal is what counts!
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
-Philippians 2:3-4
So what does it mean to be Humble?
Lowliness. When living in vanity, we are imprisoned to pride. Being "in lowliness of mind", We gain freedom from pride. Our eyes are open to our own faults, charitable in our judgments of others and gain clarity, able to observe our own defects and better ourselves, while ready to overlook and forgive others for their weaknesses and flaws. Many have misunderstood this scripture by neglecting their own welfare. The scripture does not ask us to neglect our own welfare for the welfare of others but instead follows up with "Not only for his own interest but for the interest of others."
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition". What is my heart's intention? I ask myself what the reason is behind my deed. Is it entirely for others? or to benefit me solely? Is it a selfless act? Or am I expecting something in return?
Being praised is a great feeling, but it is one of life's tests many of us fail to pass. Pride feeds on praises for any achievement, such as acts of service or good deeds. A human weakness that's unavoidable. However, like Paul, we remind ourselves that these acts are indeed the works of God through us. These words are His words. We remind ourselves of the spirit behind our mission and the end goal. Who are we? Preachers? Apostles? or are we servants? Followers?
Being humble requires strength and self-control.
Some may perceive humbleness as being "submissive", "no spine", or a "weak" personality. Truthfully, humility isn't any; it is one of the most vital and substantial characteristics for success. Many successful people such as Mark Zuckerberg and the late Steve Jobs proudly wear it. With humility, you can become a great leader where others will look up to you with respect.
We may be far from being humble, or we may not be at all. The good news is that it is not impossible to pursue.
"Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honour and life"
- Proverbs 22:4
This verse perfectly defines humility. A great way to encourage one to pursue it. We live in a world where we are encouraged to look out for ourselves and enjoy the "pleasures" of vanity, while the bible, sheds light on the blessings of humility and its benefits. With humility, we recognize how much we need God's help in our lives. With humility, we find comfort in who we are in Christ and seek to build others up other than ourselves. With humility, we cast out all bitterness, rage and anger along with every form of malice and gain kind and compassion for one another - as mentioned in Ephesians 4:31-32. The benefits are endless.
At some point in our lives, we've all achieved at least one act of humility, whether or not we were aware of it.
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