During the past year I have experienced God speaking to me about humility many times. This has happened in a variety of ways, such as: Someone appreciating “wisdom” I had spoken into their lives—that I later saw may have been wrong. Extending “help” to someone before they needed it. Reading a book that made me realize that there is a poverty of spirit that often comes from having enough material goods. There are three scriptures that God has especially used to address this issue in me.
The first passage is 1 Chronicles 29:14. The Israelites have contributed toward the future building of the temple and David says to God, “Who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from you, and from your hand we have given you.” This passage reminds me of two things:
- Who am I? God’s blessings on my life are far beyond what I deserve.
- All good things come from God. The only way I can bless anyone is by sharing God’s blessings to me.
The second one is from 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 where Paul tells the Corinthians to consider that not many of them were wise, powerful, or of noble birth. God has chosen, Paul says, what is foolish, weak, low, and despised in the world. His purpose is that no one might boast in his presence. My take away? God wants people to be impressed by him when they see what he has been able to do with me. (Oh, look, the caterpillar has become a butterfly!)
The third one is from Philippians 2:3-8. In this passage, we are called to humility and to take on Jesus’ attitude. Instead of acting out of selfishness or conceit, we are, in humility, to regard others as more important than ourselves and look out for their interests. We are then told to take on the attitude that Jesus had, who emptied himself and took on the form of a slave (by being made in the likeness of man). He was able to do this because he did not consider his equality with God as something to be grasped and was willing to be obedient, even when it meant death on the cross. This is the lesson I have taken from this passage: Jesus knew who he was. Taking on the form of a slave did not detract from who he was; it was just the form required to accomplish his mission. Knowing who I am in Christ should mean walking in freedom to love and serve others—unconcerned about how it may make me look in the eyes of others, ready to be whatever God needs me to be—that I might participate in the building of God’s kingdom.