Hard to be Humble

As a teenager I heard a song by country music singer Mac Davis, "It's Hard to be Humble". The lyrics featured the phrase "it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way". The song was a humorous view of a man with a very high opinion of himself, but it also provides some insight into a common view of humility.

Often when I think of humility I focus on my view of myself. I am humbled when I consider my short-comings. I am humbled when I realize all the mistakes I've made. I am humbled by the foolish things I have said. I am humbled when I compare myself with others who are smarter, kinder, more accomplished or more talented than I am. I am humbled when I consider the many blessings I have received that I realize I don't deserve. I am humbled when I consider my sins and my weaknesses. I realize I am far from perfect, so I have every reason to be humble.

But, have you ever considered that someone can be humble even if they are perfect in every way?

For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be held on to, but emptied Himself, and took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross -- Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus was humble, but he had no short-comings or imperfections to be humble about. Why should He, of all people, be humble?

For Jesus humility was not about His view of Himself, but about His view of others. Jesus was humble because we needed Him to be. Jesus emptied himself and took on the form of a servant not because that was His natural position, but because that was the position we needed Him to take. Humility in this case has less to do with what He thought of Himself than with how much and how often He thought of others.

Jesus was Almighty God incarnate. He was worthy of all glory, honor and praise. He never denied that was His rightful position. He accepted worship. He acknowledged that He was the Master. Yet, He came as one who serves. He was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. He served God in doing so, but ultimately He served us. The Creator humbled Himself to serve the creature.

If ever you are in the extremely unlikely position where you undoubtedly are the smartest, the most talented, the most experienced, the most gifted, or just the best looking person in the room, consider. For the true servant of God humility isn't about you. It's about others.

-PG

Rabbi! Rabbi!

Speaking of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 Christ said,

But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers. And call no one your father on the earth, for One is your Father in Heaven. Nor be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, even Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Sometimes we may scratch our heads when we read this verse. Didn't Christ give some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers (Ephesians 4:11)? Didn't Paul call Timothy his "own son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2)? Didn't Paul call himself the father of the brethren in Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:15)? How then does Christ say we should not be called fathers or teachers?

The answer, as always, is in the context. In the preceding verses in Matthew 23, Jesus is speaking of the Pharisees and notes,

And they love the first couch at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the market-places, and to be called "Rabbi! Rabbi!" by men.

Jesus is primarily warning about those seeking preeminence. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that a man does the work of a teacher. It is another thing to called teacher and to be elevated above your brethren. Note the contrast that Jesus draws in His admonition. "Call no man Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, Christ, and you are all brethren." There are several applications I think can be drawn from this passage.

Equal Servants

First and foremost we should observe what Jesus was clearly teaching in this passage. All Christians are brethren and we all stand on an equal footing before God. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28).

There is no place in the kingdom for those that are ambitious for power, prestige and recognition. If you want a place of honor and distinction, you don't know the Lord that you serve. He "emptied himself, and took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross." (Philippians 2:7-8).

We are all servants of the same master. We don't have task masters, but fellow servants. Even those in leadership positions (elders, aka bishops, pastors) are often the greatest servants of the church, sacrificing time and energy, and patiently enduring mistreatment and abuse. If you want to be great in the kingdom, you need to be the servant of all.

Equal Disciples

A disciple is a learner and a follower. Christ never intended that a few disciples should learn and tell the rest what to do. In the early church there was no clergy. Unlearned men were Christ's apostles. Anyone who could hear and remember the word could teach it to others. The gospel is not complicated. It was never intended to be the subject of Th.D. dissertations. Jesus said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes" (Luke 10:21).

We all have the responsibility to learn for ourselves. We need to study the scriptures and know that we can understand it as well as or better than the seminary student. We need to put aside the preconceptions of centuries of theological theorizing and just read the word. Chances are any particular passage means exactly what it seems to mean. And when we understand it, we need to live it.

Beware the Title

Finally, I think it is fair to question the use of "honorifics". Why does anyone expect to be called reverend? Christ could as easily have said, "Call no man reverend, for One is to be revered, your Father in heaven." Does that not fit the gist of His teaching? I believe we need to be very wary of those that seek out such titles. The scriptural work of an evangelist is to preach the word, not to build large multi-million dollar church-businesses. The work of an evangelist is to reach the lost, not to create a larger-than-life television personality. Though many such endeavors may begin with honest and good intentions, it is all to easy for things to get out of hand. It can eventually take on a life of its own and, instead of glorifying God, it can become all about the servant -- his power, his prestige, his income, and his fame.

"But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers."
Amen.

-PG