THOUGHTS ON THE LORD’S DAY
“Humility, you’re not born with it—even if you are born again.”
True humility means never feeling the need to defend yourself because you are comfortable with who you are in Christ and putting others first. You are also ok without others always having to know your side of the story.
The picture of humility in the Bible is one of a strong person who honors others, not someone who is a wimp or constantly compromises the Truth.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
“More than any play I drew up in the locker room, more than any strategy or concept we used during our championship season, one word paved the way for everything to follow: humility.” Rick Pitino, Basketball Coach.
Quite a statement from one of today’s most successful college basketball coaches. It’s especially true when today’s top athletes are best known for their out-of-control ego’s and uncoachable lifestyles. Humility, as a leadership quality, is rare today in almost any field of endeavor.
Model Christians, especially leaders, those who stand the test of time with integrity, all possess a spirit of humility. Humility, the absence of pride or self-assertion, is very hard to fake for long.
Humility has a negative connotation for many but it is the core characteristics of all mature Christians. Never confuse humility with weakness or lack of ability. It’s the weak and immature who constantly talk about themselves and make excuses for their failures.
When you see a leader listening to his team, praising them consistently for their contributions and deflecting recognition to others; you are seeing humility. Humility has its own reward, seeing others succeed when no one thought they could.
There are too many people with titles of authority who feel their position is a validation of everything they think or do. They are severely mistaken with their own importance. During tough times people work harder in fulfilling the goals if they know their mentor/leader listens and sincerely considers their input before finalizing the plan of action. It’s called ownership and it works.
Proverbs 22:4 says, “By humility and the fear of The Lord are riches and honor and life.” You can gain a position of leadership without being humble, however, you cannot lead successfully and with integrity without it.
If you don’t learn to humble yourself before your Creator, you will have difficulty listening to those He sends to help you. It’s the leader without a spirit of humility that is usually humiliated while the whole world watches. Just ask the mighty that have fallen in every walk of life.