The Enabling Power of Humility

Dear friends of IBC,

This past Sunday, Pastor James brought us a beautiful message on the integral role of humility in the Christian life. I would like to reiterate his message today in our Word For The Week by sharing what I have come to understand about humility in my years of reflection on its role in my life.

As we are all familiar, the world defines the enabling power in our lives to be pride. A higher sense of self lifts us up to take hold of our ideal self image- the person we dream of being. We often envision this person to be a charismatic, magnetic character confident in everything that he or she is doing, sure of oneself in the face of others. This person doesn’t deliberate on the choices to be made, he or she simply knows and chooses. The world tells us that this version of ourselves is achievable through introspection and self-reflection. Yet, if we parse out this logic from a biblical perspective (that we in nature are not good, Romans 3:10-12) we can see that this worldly perspective is really a paradox: how can one achieve a better version of self, if the initial self is no good to begin with?

This is where the enabling power of humility takes hold. For me, I have come to the understanding of humility in my mantra of prayer: “Less of me, Lord, and more of You.” I now see that humility is not simply making less of myself, but it enables me to make room for the Better to come in my life. It is emptying out the well of the putrid waters of prideful self and letting it be filled with the purifying waters of our perfect Lord. In our limited capacity as humans, we must see that pride simply limits us as the more we are filled with it, the less room we have for God to work in our lives. As Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24a).

Once we come to the understanding of “less me, more God,” we begin to witness change happening in our lives. We are no more hampered by the constant nagging and debilitating nature of insecurity that we once felt under the yoke of pride. We aren’t worried about ourselves simply because we are focused on the Lord- our rock, our confidence, our true self image and identity.

And with focusing on the Lord comes the greater ability to focus on (and serve) others. We don’t have to get past ourselves anymore with the invading thoughts of “Why me?” or “What can I gain from this?” simply because we are already in the mindset of Christ (Philippians 2:6). In this, the charismatic, magnetic character springs forth exuding confidence in action and decision, because it is grounded in the perfect source of self image that we all secretly yearn for: Christ Jesus Himself!

My friends, take courage today to let go of the limiting yoke of pride and put on the enabling humility of Christ. See the exalted Lord on the throne today and know that he is reaching down to you to lift you higher! Rest in his love and let it define you through and through. Only then, will you be able to live the life that you so yearn for.

In Christ,
James Wood