Humility Defined

 

Humility, what is it? Webster’s defines it as “the state or quality of being humble.” Let’s explore a few ideas that someone may have said to you sometime. 1) You always have to have the last word, 2) You disagree on part of something someone shares with you, whether orally or in a book, 3) You portray yourself as a perfect believer, 4) Posting your accomplishments on your wall is wrong. Ok, would you agree that any of the above could be seen as showing a lack of humility? If so, read on.

  1. Being adamant that no matter what someone says you have to say something in response may quite well be showing a lack of humility. However, having the last word in a conversation could also mean this: If you listen to what someone says prior to making your comments (or not) shows that you are humble enough to allow him/her to express their view on the subject. Does this mean that you must be quiet or be ashamed, maybe even afraid to express your views, when they are finished speaking in order to be humble? No sir. Humility does not mean you cannot communicate your own viewpoint on the subject. If your comment is the statement “I already knew that” and it is the truth, why would you say otherwise? It does not make you a “know-it-all” person. All it shows is that your knowledge is equal. Being equal does not make you better than anyone else.
  2. Does a disagreement with a statement someone makes or with what is in a book mean that you are not humble? No. Everyone is entitled to disagree and make their own choices and opinions. YaHVaH Himself does not stop us from choosing our own way. It’s called Free Will. Humility doesn’t override this free will, but rather it is a result of the usage of this free will to choose to not exhort ourselves above someone else. Disagreeing doesn not necessarily mean you think you are better than someone. It shows your Elohiym given free will to choose your own opinions. Arguing on the other hand, does bring about strife and contention because it takes disagreeing to another level where you refuse to acknowledge the other’s right to his/her opinion.
  3. Portraying yourself as a perfect believer is not what most believers do. It is an observation by someone else due to a sense of guilt or a feeling of inadequacy. Most believers will gladly acknowledge that they are not perfect. If someone sees you that way then Praise YaHVaH they must be seeing what Messiah wants them to see. Strive to be the person that YaHVaH, through Yahoshua, wants you to be. Even though we are not perfect in and of ourselves, we are perfect in Messiah because He is perfect. I am not ashamed to be a beliver and I am happy to know that I am seen as perfect by YaHVaH through His Son, Yahoshua HaMashiyach. To be otherwise, would be to show shame in Him, which is not humility, but rather a denial of His power and your faith.
  4. Posting your accomplishments on your wall and/or acknowledging them in no way proves that you are not humble. All they show is that you took the time to better yourself as I believe YaHVaH calls each of us to do in different ways. If you walk around demanding people to acknowledge what your accomplishments represent, then you are not showing humility. Humility does not mean that you should be ashamed of your efforts, it means that you should not try to elevate yourself to what you are not. It is only through the saving blood of Yahoshua HaMashiyach that we [any of us] can consider ourselves blessed.

First published 7-2003, © 2003, 2017

 

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