It's Great to Be Humble

As I wrote in last week's blog post, I want take the next several weeks  to talk about the marks of a Jesus-follower. We talk regularly on Sundays and in our Growth Groups about "loving like Jesus loved and living like Jesus lived." But what does that look like at the everyday level of life?

Romans 12 gives us a glimpse of the Jesus-centered life. After laying out a strong case for the gospel, Paul shifts in chapter 12 of his letter to the church in Rome to discuss what it means to live out the gospel.

Today, we come to verse 3, which says:

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Paul is saying that a Jesus-follower shouldn't think too highly of himself. Or, to sum it up in one word, a Jesus-follower is humble.

Gospel Humility

When you look at the gospel, you see that Jesus died for your sin. Your sin means you aren't great. You were separated from God. You were dead in your sins. There was nothing about you that you could brag about before God.

But if your eyes have been opened to the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection and you know your sin is forgiven, it makes you humble. You did nothing to earn this. It is completely a free gift from God out of His grace, mercy, and love for us.

This means we can't walk around with our nose in the air like we are better than others. Instead, God's grace through the gospel helps us have a more accurate view of ourselves. Through the gospel, we see we are more sinful and wicked than we may have realized, but we are also more loved than we could ever imagine.

And that truth instills within us a humility that is brimming with confidence.

The Greatness of Humility

One of the benefits of humility is that other people actually want to be around us and are more inclined to listen to us. Most people do not enjoy being around a braggart. Boastful people think bragging will draw people to them (because people want to be around great people, right?). But bragging often does the opposite - it pushes people away because the braggart is so full of himself that he has no room for anyone else.

On the other hand, humility actually accomplishes what the braggart desires. Most people like being around a humble person, because a humble person doesn't think low of themselves, they simply think less of themselves and instead focus on others. This makes people feel cared for and respected.

So how might God be calling you today and this weekend to be humble?

• Do you need to ask more questions of others rather than tell stories about yourself?
• Do you need to share less on Facebook or Instagram about yourself and more about the wonderful people around you?
• And what does it look like for you to not think low of yourself, but less of yourself, so that you can then love others like Jesus would love them?