What is humility?

Beloved,

What is humility?  Is humility thinking less of yourself?  Is humility less thinking of yourself?

What do we mean when we say, “He is full of himself?”  Is this not a declaration of pride in another?

Were you aware that Paul condemns false teachers who “delight in ‘false’ humility”?  How crazy is that?… that someone can actually be proud in their self-denial (ESV “asceticism”; Col 2:18). 

Humility then has to be more than merely “self-abasement” (NASB, Col 2:18).  Those who self-flagellate are still consumed… wait for it… with SELF.  

It is the same for those caught up in self-pity.  Self is still the object of appeasement AND the means of atonement.  Humility is other than a low opinion of self.  Humility is the absence of self.

Humility does not look to self for joy.

Humility does not look to self for hope.

Humility does not look to self for glory, for atonement, for satisfaction.

Humility does not look to self at all.  Humility is LESS thinking of self.

Humility, in not being concerned with self, is not offended…not defensive… not vengeful.  

I think that is what Paul thought when he wrote,

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, 

if only [so that] I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, 

to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” ~ Acts 20:24

Paul was not offering self-deprecation when he considered his life “not worth a single word” (NET footnote).  No…

Paul was simply NOT interested in himself as his greatest good… He thought God’s glory to be that.. and so he was more interested in making much of God than himself.

How about you?

Are you full of self…often offended, defensive, protective of reputation and value?

OR… are you free from self…and thus able to make much of God?

Oh that God would grant us eyes to see that the happiest self finds Him, His worth, His name, His value to be THE greatest good.

10,000 Blessings in The Wonderful Counselor,

Jim