In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

What mindset invariably leads to treating others correctly? Humility. When we see ourselves as undeserving of the least of God’s goodness, then we see other’s weaknesses in a different light. Nothing brings our perspective of others more in line with how God sees them than looking at ourselves first. When God looks at us, he loves us even though He is perfect and we are not. When we look at ourselves first then others, we will realize that they are not perfect, but neither are we.

When Christ rode into Jerusalem the people put garments and palm leaves on the ground before Him.  They were not honoring the donkey, but the rider.  When people throw accolades at us, it is easy to be caught up in the adulation, but we must remember that their adoration is probably not for us, but for Him who sits on the throne of our life.  Remembering that can keep pride from enveloping us. Teddy Roosevelt, who had his struggles with arrogance, would ocassionally step outside on a clear night and locate the Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda in the lower left-hand corner of the Great Square of Pegasus.  The Spiral Galaxy is as large as our Milky Way, is just one of millions of galaxies. and consists of one hundred billion suns, all larger than our own.  After a few minutes Roosevelt would say that he felt small enough and would go back inside, his pride set aside for the time being.  The universe can quickly put all things into perspective.  It’s bigness belies any notion that we are much bigger than anyone else in comparison.

When we, in genuine and personal humility, esteem others as we ought, we will cease to look for ways to please ourselves and begin to look for ways to help others. Rather than using others to better ourselves, we will use ourselves to better others. Our concern becomes not how can we fulfill our own desires, but how can help others fulfill their needs. In Ephesians we read, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  (Ephesians 4:2)  The Apostle Paul also gave similar instruction to the church at Philippi.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”  (Philippians 2:3)  Paul was incredibly confident about his message, but he understood he was just an earthen vessel patched together by God.  Of  himself, he said, “I am the least of the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:9), “I am the very least of all the saints.” (Ephesians 3:8), and  “I am the foremost of sinners.” 1 ( Timothy 1:15)  On one hand,  Paul told the Corinthians they could model their lives after him and yet here he is confessing his lowliness.  Paul knew that anything great in him was because of God, so to take credit for it would be robbery from God.

How we plan our day, how we use our time, how we spend our money – are all barometers of true humility. We can find great joy and satisfaction in giving up our own pleasures for the sake of others. If Christ would not have been able to do that for us, no one would be saved.  M.R. DeHaan, a great Christian writer, said,  “Humility is something that we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have.”   I heard of a pastor who wanted to do a sermon on humility, but was waiting for a bigger crowd.  I think he missed the point of his own sermon.

I told a story  a few years back at Camas’s Academic Awards night about hearing one of the seniors praying before a football game, asking God to make him humble.  “Unfortunately,” I said, “God thought he said make me fumble…and he did…four times…which, indeed, made him humble.” As soon as we think we have humility, we have lost it.  Pride has a way of bringing us back down to earth, so it is probably best to not elevate ourselves- it makes the trip back down a lot harder.