HUMILITY: VALUING OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELF

Thirty years ago, I started my college teaching career. After many initial bumps and bruises in the classroom, caused by my lack of experience and a fear of public speaking, I found out that being a college professor was quite fulfilling. The fulfillment came in two forms: the genuine pleasure of helping others grow in their knowledge and the artificial high one received in being looked up to and called by titles. After all, “doctor” sounds more impressive than “mister.”

In my case, those early years of college teaching coincided with the early years of my Christian walk. I was voraciously reading the Bible. Principles were being formed within me, often without much recognition or any special effort on my part.

One such principle was that of humility. I saw it lived out in Jesus as I read through the Scriptures, even as I recognized the antithesis of humility on the college campus and within me. It sure was nice to be on that pedestal. In reality, however, I was a lightweight on campus. Other faculty members had developed arrogance and preening to an art form. It was like being at a bodybuilding contest, but the muscles on display were human brains.

As is often the case, we fail to see in ourselves what we dislike seeing in others. In comparing myself to others, I did not look so bad. It was those other egotistical professors that the Lord should humble. However, the sin in me was what interested the Lord.

What does it mean to be humble in the biblical sense? We need to look no further than the characteristics of Jesus. He had every right to see Himself as special, privileged, and worthy of honor. But instead, He displayed a deferential attitude and became subservient to those He sought to seek and save. Should I not emulate Him in those very characteristics? Had my recent salvation experience taught me nothing? Through it, did I not recognize that my knowledge, influence, and power were very limited? Doesn’t the Bible urge us to humble ourselves and pray (2 Chronicles 7:14)? Does it not warn us that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (Matthew 23:12)?

These truths began to grow in me as my teaching career continued. God gave me genuine love and respect for my students. Their interests, primarily a desire to learn, became my interests. The Bible exhorted me to value others above myself (Philippians 2:3). But humility is not a constant companion. Pride and arrogance are ever-present enemies waiting to pounce. My sinful nature is always ready to receive praise and adoration, which rebels against humility and servanthood.

My lessons in humility (and other godly characteristics) continued for nearly three decades. Only then the Lord decided to call me into missionary service. What a privilege it is, but additional humility is required. Just as Jesus was sent by the Father to seek and save, I am being sent by the Son to serve and share. The impact of the gospel message is severely blunted when it is not offered in a spirit of love, grace, and humility. Jesus Himself promised “those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Nothing makes a follower of Jesus feel more exalted than to lead someone to Christ, to disciple a new believer, to see a church launched, or, in short, to see the unreached reached.

LIVE DEAD CHALLENGE

A Turkish believer who spoke at the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization said he judges missionaries by a “humility index.” He prays that they stay and are used mightily if they are humble. If they are not humble, he prays God takes them away from Turkey to trouble their own people back home. See if you can make it for a week without referencing yourself, or anything you have done, both in conversation and in writing.

UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP: ETHIOPIAN AFAR

In the Ethiopian Afar areas, only two hospitals are available for the Afar people, who are usually found to be malnourished. Their diets consist mainly of bread and milk. Many Afar people have anemia and malaria because of their inadequate diets. The Afar are 99 percent Muslim, with a few dozen believers in Ethiopia. Every time you drink a glass of milk, use milk while cooking, or add milk to a hot drink, would you remember to pray for the Afar? Pray that the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for the Afar will not have been spilled in vain.