The Advent of Humility
Innumerable Christmas devotionals point out the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth—among shepherds, in a crude stable, with a feed trough for a bassinet. When Jesus himself tried to summarize why people should take up the yoke of following him, he said it was because he was meek and humble (Matt. 11:29). Seldom, however, do we explore the full implications of how Jesus' radical humility shapes the way we live our lives every day.
Humility is crucial for Christians. We can only receive Christ through meekness and humility (Matt. 5:3, 5; 18:3-4). Jesus humbled himself and was exalted by God (Phil. 2:8-9); therefore joy and power through humility is the very dynamic of the Christian life (Luke 14:11; 18:14; 1 Pet. 5:5).
The teaching seems simple and obvious. The problem is that it takes great humility to understand humility, and even more to resist the pride that comes so naturally with even a discussion of the subject.
We are on slippery ground because humility cannot be attained directly. Once we become aware of the poison of pride, we begin to notice it all around us. We hear it in the sarcastic, snarky voices in newspaper columns and weblogs. We see it in civic, cultural, and business leaders who never admit weakness or failure. We see it in our neighbors and some friends with their jealousy, self-pity, and boasting.
And so we vow not to talk or act like that. If we then notice "a humble turn of mind" in ourselves, we immediately become smug—but that is pride in our humility. If we catch ourselves doing that we will be particularly impressed with how nuanced and subtle we have become. Humility is so shy. If you begin talking about it, it leaves. To even ask the question, "Am I humble?" is to not be so. Examining ...
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Anonymous
Excellent piece, the opposite of humble of course is pride, the first sin it could be argued. Humility recognizes and celebrates the grace of God. Pride on the other hand leaves no room for pride. I appreciated how the author talked about so well and so wonderfully all those difficulties of humility. When I know I have it I am most far from it and Wormwood has won another round.
Jerry
Here's a practical suggestion for humility: Ask God to humble you. When I have had the courage to ask this of God, his answers have been quick, painful, and effective.
Peter
I am increasingly surprised how, with all due respect to Mr. Keller, the modern evangelical church is now almost the inversion of the church of Jonathan Edwards' day, a day in which how one did represent himself or herself actually meant something. He would indeed be considered perhaps little more than a very smart moralist in today's world.