Christian Humility
Open Your Bible
Philippians 1:27-30, Philippians 2:1-18, Psalm 133:1-3, 1 Corinthians 1:10
BY Guest Writer
“So, have I missed anything during my Twitter vacation?” I asked my husband, half joking, half serious. Every January, I take an annual social media break. Whatever I call this—a fast, a disappearance, a protest, a spiritual practice, an act of self-care—I’m always astonished how the break makes my world feel quieter. It’s sobering to notice how I’m being shaped by the constant noise of life online. And I wonder how Jesus might be calling all of us to a better, humbler way.
In His letter to the church at Philippi, Paul has quite a bit to say on the subject of humility. He writes, “Consider others as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3), before drawing comparisons to Jesus Himself in 2:5–7.
If this tempts you to empty yourself into silence or challenges your natural fighter instinct, please know this isn’t an invitation to be passive. Jesus was a man who frequently challenged power, debating religious leaders and touching the unclean, and defending the dignity of people on the margins of life. So no, humility isn’t about shrinking into invisibility. There are certainly things worth fighting for.
Perhaps humility is more of a posture. And if humility is our posture and Christ is our example, then we can walk in love and know how to respond when we come up against the messiness of the world, acting from a place of love and security rather than reacting. We can know when to rage against the darkness and when to be still.
We can also learn when to sit and listen. We can fight the darkness while honoring each other’s humanity. We can acknowledge that even the corrupt and the cruel are loved by a God who grieves for them, who longs to lead them out of the darkness and welcome them as sons and daughters.
So, the social media thing? You don’t have to scroll far to see the human tendency to posture with pride. I see it when I ask a question and I’m already planning what to say next. I see it when my love for a person cools because I don’t like their behavior online. I see it when we slip into performative debates for the cultural currency of likes and retweets.
In life online and off, what would it look like to look out for the interests of others before my own? How might we learn to consider others with more importance, even when we disagree? What kinds of questions ought we learn to ask before we speak? And how will it empower us to know when our words really matter?
Questions like these might help to foster humility. And no doubt, we need the help because humility is a hard way. But it’s also one we don’t have to walk alone.
Jen Rose Yokel is a poet, writer, a spiritual director in training, and a contributing writer at The Rabbit Room. Originally from Central Florida, she now makes her home in Fall River, Massachusetts, with her husband Chris. Some of her favorite things include used bookstores and good coffee. You can find more of her writing at jenroseyokel.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @jen_rose.
45 thoughts on "Christian Humility"
-
what is your sponsor post price at-https://shereadstruth.com/ waiting for your reply thanks
-
Just listened to these podcasts about sin and understand the depths of this, the price that was paid. Humility is mentioned. Just thought I should share! https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/sin-as-self-righteousness/
-
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
-
Hi ladies, I wanted to give some feedback and thanks for prayer I received about my marriage. In the last year I have felt the lord draw closer to me and to my husband than ever before and we are well on our way to feeling strong again ❤️ thank you so much, this community is wonderful xx
-
❤️
-
-
In God there are never coincidences. This morning as my boys were disagreeing about something I told them “are you helping or are you hurting?” I have to admit I sometimes don’t take my own advice, I blurt out words i cannot take back. But today this reading reminds me once again why it’s so important I walk in a posture of humility, love and harmony. I want to remind myself, am I helping or am I hurting. Thank you Lord for this reminder today! ♡
-
I happen to be listening to Dr. Charles Stanley’s message this morning when this same subject came up. Humility. God will often times take our strengths and use them against us. Not to break us, but to teach us to rely on Him and not our own power or abilities. Those things will fail us, God never will.
-
Humility. It’s something that I’ve learned about throughout growing up. Sunday school lessons, and learning how to interact with others…
humility brings peace. Jesus was the ultimate example of humility… and he brought the ultimate gift of peace.
I often have prayed for humility in my own life. I know it’s something that everyone needs more of… but I can’t help but feel that it’s this distant thing that I ask for but don’t necessarily try to implement to the fullest. Yes, I’ll let others cut in front of me in line (if I really have to), and yes I’ll let others get their food before me… but is that real humility?
Verse 2:13 really struck me. “It is God who works in you, both to WILL and to WORK for his good pleasure.”
I believe that I’ve just merely been “willing” myself to be humble… without actually working on it. Humility takes work…. it’s not some fairy dust that will one day appear if I pray hard enough. It takes work, and we’re encouraged to “work out our own salvation”.
Father, help me to have the Will of you (to love others before myself), and to actually do it and to work hard at it!! -
I was looking up certain words in the Greek (Bible Hub is a great resource for this) while reading today’s passage because I realise that not everything translates properly into English.
Humility is defined as “a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness” which I think offers great perspective; we don’t have it all together so who are we to consider ourselves better than others.
It would sure be hard to truly “stand firm in one accord”, “contend together” if we hold that arrogance in our hearts. Thank God for God!
Post Comments (45)