In our culture humility is not a positive word. We often think of being humiliated, or being less than others if we are humble. Actually, humility isn’t so much about being humble or even being humbled as it is about seeing God for Who He is. Humility is the opposite of pride. Humility is enriching for the soul.

Humility is what Satan lacked. Satan could see how wonderfully created he was. He knew that he had beauty and wisdom (Ezekiel 28:17). Unlike Jesus, he prided himself in who he was and lost relationship with God for eternity. Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but humbled Himself. Jesus knew that He was as great as God—not just one who possessed beauty and wisdom. Jesus chose humility. Humility allowed Him to experience the greatest intimacy with God where God was able to exalt Him above all creation (Philippians 2:5-11).

How did Jesus humble Himself? Humility is about really seeing God. If we let our finite beings begin to enter the spiritual realms in our minds and create a picture of God from what He tells us about Himself in His Word, we will become humble. Like David, we will exclaim: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4) The next time you are outside on a starlit night or you are awake early enough to view a sunrise, let your heart begin to praise the awesome God who forms such sights with His fingertips; then notice how you feel deep in your soul. That’s humility.

Humility isn’t thinking you are the scum of the earth. Humility causes you to get in touch with the fact that you are deeply loved by a Being too incredible to describe! You become enriched by humility because when you are in this spiritual state God can lead you (Psalm 25:9), honor you (Proverbs 18:12), exalt you at just the right time (I Peter 5:6) and make you great in His kingdom (Matthew 18:4). These are just a few of the promises God makes to the humble.

Make this Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition your own:

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
To thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

Humility is a spiritually enriching experience. It drives out pride. It draws you closer to God. It helps you conceive of God in your own small way. Begin to consider who God really is. Begin to take in His character and ponder His creation. If you do, very soon you will be feeling humility and soon after you will notice how rich you are to be loved by this Amazing God.