Shane Legler

When a Christian speaks of virtue, they must necessarily speak of something intrinsic to the character of God himself. Therefore, we cannot speak of the virtue of humility without considering the humility of God. Although it is proven by the resurrection, the grandest and most awesome miracle of all is surely the incarnation. The incarnation is a mystery that is more to be marveled at than understood. The maker of all that is laid aside his glory and became man. 

Further, he didn’t just become man; he became an ordinary man. Speaking of Christ, Isaiah said, “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:2b-3)

In John 13, Jesus showed us what true humility is when he laid aside his robe, wrapped himself in a towel and washed the feet of his disciples. In our culture, we find the washing of another’s feet to be odd, embarrassing, or uncomfortable. In their culture, the washing of feet was common, but it was unthinkable that the greater should wash the feet of the lesser. The washing of feet was a service rendered by slaves or servants. Yet, Christ stooped to wash the feet of his own disciples. 

After doing so, he put his robe back on and resumed his position of honor. Then he told them, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” (John 13:13-16)

May we consider the fact that the maker of all things is humble. This is why humility is a virtue. It is part of God’s own character. It is also why self-worshipping pride is so ugly, as it is utterly opposed to the character of God. It also happens to be the original sin. Speaking of Lucifer, Isaiah 14:13-14 declares “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” 

When we walk in arrogant pride and self-worship, we walk in the way of the devil. When we walk in humility, we walk in the way of Christ. Yet, humility is probably the most elusive of virtues as the self is always looking to … well, assert itself. Humility is not self-abasement. It is self-abandonment. A man always chastising himself about being a miserable worm is still always thinking of himself. Humility leads us, not to demean ourselves, but to just not think much about ourselves.

In humility, we are free not to dwell on our insignificance, but to simply count others more significant than ourselves (Phillipians 2:3). When we walk in humility, service is not degrading but honorable. Indeed, the Lord tells us that humility comes before honor (Poverbs 18:12). Further, the Lord truly does give grace to the humble while actively opposing the proud (1 Peter 5:5). In short, to practice humility is simply to reflect the image of God according to the example of Christ.

Yet, for most of us, this will always be easier said than done. What is a vision grand enough to get us to forget about ourselves? As with all things, it must come back to the cross. Being that God commends us all to live always in the power and hope of Christ’s death and resurrection, I will leave you with the vision of the cross as Isaac Watts gave it to us, “When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood … Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” God help us all to lose ourselves in that vision.

(Shane Legler is the pastor of Powell Church of God.)