Humility
A Contradiction in Terms!
Who thinks of Paul, the Apostle, as humble? I always think of him as outspoken, assertive, boisterous, a little abrasive, possibly overbearing. Aren’t those all adjectives that evoke the opposite of humility? Paul, however, refers to himself in Acts 20:19 as acting humbly,
18And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house.”
A Bible dictionary defines humility as “an attitude of lowliness and obedience, grounded in the recognition of one’s status before God as his creatures.” Using that definition, I agree that Paul was humble, before God (perhaps not before men).
Webster’s dictionary defines humility as one who is “not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive, of low rank in a hierarchy, insignificant and unpretentious”. Paul does not seem to fit anywhere into that definition of humility. The word humble is derived from the Latin “humilis”, meaning low; and humus, or earth, meaning “on the ground”.
Aren’t many great historical leaders referred to as humble people? Abraham Lincoln was considered a very humble man, but he was also a leader of our country during the very challenging War Between the States. Similarly, Dwight D Eisenhower was considered humble, although he was an effective US Army General and later the President of the United States
People who are humble may be very effective leaders because they lead by example and are not vain or self-consumed. Humble people avoid bragging and boasting thus making other people more comfortable in their presence. Humble leaders inspire loyalty in others because they understand that they are not effective without the help of others working with them.
Jesus was a humble servant. We should follow his example.
Dear Lord: Help me to be a humble servant and example for others.
Sherilyn Svien
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