Mark 9:35 Phil.2: 1 – 11 John 13: 1 – 17
Introduction
A church realized the importance of humility, so it formed a committee to find the most humble person in the church. Many names were submitted and numerous candidates evaluated. Finally, the committee came to a unanimous decision. They selected a quiet little man who always lived in the background and had never taken credit for anything he had done. They awarded him the "Most Humble" button for his faithful service. However, the next day they had to take it away from him because he pinned it on
Humility is a very difficult to topic to share.
If you come up to me and say, that I am a loving person, caring person, talented person, multi-faceted person – I would thank you and say you are so kind.
But if you come to me and say, that I am a humble person, I am not sure How to respond to it?
It is a hard thing to master. If I say I am humble, then am I humble? If I think I'm humble, am I? Or what if I say, "In my humble opinion, I'm not very humble," then what do I do? Humility is one of those elusive character qualities that, the moment you think you've achieved it, you run the risk of losing it altogether. Even Jesus’ disciples struggled with it. When Jesus learned that they had been arguing about who was the greatest, He responded, “If anyone desires to be first, he should be last of all and servant of all” (Mk. 9:35). Then He took a little child in His arms and indicated that we need to humbly serve others as if we were serving Christ.
Our example of humility is Jesus Christ, who took on the form of a servant, and lowered Himself to death on the cross for our sakes.
He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride:
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
Someone said, “I would love to be humble, but what if no one notices” – That’s exactly the point.
Gross: Someone said, “Humility is like underwear, essential but indecent if it shows”
Let’s look at what humility actually means
Various forms used, Tapenio, Tapenioo, Tapeniomai, and Tapeniophyrosyne
It is an inside-out virtue produced by comparing ourselves to the Lord (rather than to others). This brings behavior into alignment with this inner revelation to keep one from being self-exalting (self-determining, self-inflated).
For the believer, tapeinophrosýnē ("humility") means living in complete dependence on the Lord, i.e. with no reliance on self (the flesh).
Simply said, It means seeing others as higher than our self. The word (tapeinoo) literally means "to level a mountain or a hill." Humble people are those who have no hills sticking up. They are not filled up with the hot air of arrogance and pride.
So how do we cultivate or develop this Humility in our lives.
The Two I’s of Humility
1. Humility stems from our Identity in Christ
If we know who we are in Christ, being humble is inevitable
Our Example is Jesus Christ …
Let’s read John 13 again … v.3-5
What would happen, if everything was given to us … if we inherit the earth …?
The Knowledge that He came from God, and going back to God and that God gave him everything … made him humble.
Likewise, our identity of who we are in Christ, should lead us to be humble.
Many people believe that humility is the opposite of pride, when, in fact it is the point of equilibrium. The opposite of pride is actually a lack of self esteem. A humble person is totally different from a person who cannot recognize and appreciate himself as part of God’s plans.
That’s what Jesus showed us.
Our Identity of being sons and daughters of the Father, brings in us a sense of equilibrium, where we do not need to feel abased or despised and we also do not need to feel elated or bloated.
Tryon Edwards, “”True Humility is not an abject, self-despising Spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us”
When we are filled with God, there is no place, for I
“He must increase, I must decrease”
Illustration:
A little frog wanted to go south for the winter. It was too far to hop and he did not have wings to fly. Two Little birds felt sorry for the little frog and together they came up with a plan. The little birds would hold each end of a stick in their beaks, and all the frog would have to do was to clamp down on the stick with his mouth and hold on.
The sky was clear and everything seemed hopeful for the little frog. Two farmers were standing in a field and saw the little birds carrying the frog and one said to the other, "That was a brilliant idea, I wonder who came up with the plan." The little frog couldn’t keep his mouth shut and He said, “I-I-I-I-I- I”. All he had to was to keep his mouth shut.
The Cross is nothing but “I” crossed out
Knowing our Identity in Christ, helps us to be humble
2. Humility grows with our Imitation of Christ
Phil. 2: 5-7
We are encouraged to imitate Christ, who humbled himself to be exalted.
To “have this attitude” means “to develop an attitude based upon careful thought.” Paul is inviting us to rethink our attitude based upon Christ’s attitudes (2:6) and actions (2:7–8).
Obviously, living up to the attitude of Christ is not easy. It’s a pursuit that humbles every believer to dust; nevertheless, we are commanded to pursue this lofty goal. How is our attitude today? Does it line up with Jesus Christ or with our natural tendencies and inclinations?
2:7 “made himself of no reputation …”
Illustration:
Recently heard a news on BBC – a very famous personality has more followers on his social media (Twitter, FB & Instagram together) – more than anyone in the whole world – 250 million followers – Any idea? – Christiano Ronaldo
How famous do I become – the world system right now is dominated by how famous you are. The world is asking now … how famous are you? How many people are following you … how many likes do I get for what I write, how many RT’s and how many approvals …?
People want to be liked … no one wants to be disliked … so much so that … it compelled Facebook from removing the “dislike” button. Yes !
People keep staring at their phones and tabs and laptops, even if there are no messages to read … they keep staring in the hope that they will get some messages to read. Sometimes, they go around reading the older messages.
Fame and Reputation is the longing to be known, to be somebody in someone else’s eyes. “I want to be someone … I want people to recognize me for what I do, or say or am?”
Phil. 2: 7 says, Jesus made himself of no reputation and became a servant …
Ooooh ! that’s totally counter to this culture. That is the counter culture of Jesus.
It is kind of “Oxymoron” – or seemingly contradictory statements – “be humble so that you will be exalted”
But if we think we want to be humble with the expectation of getting exalted, it becomes meaningless …
The world says, “Strive harder, and climb up the ladder”
Bible says, “humble yourselves, no matter”
The World says, “please yourself”
The Bible says, “deny yourself”
The world says, “develop leadership abilities”
The Bible says, “develop servanthood”
The World says, “Save for the future”
The Bible says, “Give up everything”
The World says, “Be somebody …”
The Bible says, “Be a nobody …”
Imitating Christ in His humility means …
Putting others first – considering others better than ourselves 2:3
Jesus put our needs before His … He thought our need for salvation was more important than his need for comfort in Heaven.
“Humility is not pushing ourselves forward, nor is it pushing ourselves backwards. It is forgetting self and pushing others forward and upward.”
In Conclusion
The “Two I’s of Humility” – or you could say the “Two Eyes”
Illustration:
Leonard Bernstein the famous orchestra conductor was once asked, "What is the most difficult instrument to play?" He replied, "Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm or second French horn or second flute, now that's a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony." – the Second Fiddle should be restrained yet confident, should be humble enough to play with the main yet be confident enough to play everything …
Illustration:
This is the football season – which player is the most important player on the football field – the Quarterback! He is the “field general”- he plays, inspires, calls the shots, and is paid the highest salary
Who is the second most important player on the field? – Left offensive tackle. Simply because they protect the blind side of the quarterback from the rush of a fast defensive end when a single hit from the blind side can end the career of the quarterback. Not many people know a Left Offensive tackle …But these people are so important to the game that the quarterback will not go in to play without them.
That is humility … being able to stand down not because we are unable to but because we know our Identity in Christ and we Imitate Christ …
Humility stems from our Identity in Christ
Humility grows from our Imitation of Christ
