27th May, 2010
LLOYD HARKNESS
Mary anointing Jesus' feet; Peter broken at his thrice denial of being a disciple of Jesus; and, Peter, James and John somewhat agog on Mt Transfiguration. These are some of the positions of humility we can find ourselves in when we walk with Jesus.
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A HUMBLE HEART? Lloyd Harkness says humility is about submission but also involves active decision. PICTURE: © © Peter Brutsch (www.istockphoto.com)
"In some people’s minds humility embraces church mouse mildness and allowing yourself to just be used. That is a misconception. Humility is about making clear decisions to serve, even as Jesus came to serve and not be served."
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In each of these situations, and more, humility comes through as a position of strength because it is centred in trust in God. It is strength and not weakness because it draws confidence from knowing God and knowing ourselves in relation to God.
In some people’s minds humility embraces church mouse mildness and allowing yourself to just be used. That is a misconception.
Humility is about making clear decisions to serve, even as Jesus came to serve and not be served.
In James' letter, he speaks of using practical insight to direct us to actions which are to be completed in humility. He is convinced that humility is about decisions and deeds. It is not about sitting back and simply allowing things to happen to us. Humility is taking a course of action where our motive is not self worth, feeling good about ourself or kudos. These are about self. Humility is about the other.
Grace was given to us and we are to pass on the grace. When we "clothe ourselves in humility" both we, and potentially others, will continue to experience His grace. If you know you are "God’s chosen, holy and dearly loved" then you are in a healthy place to do the works He has set aside for you to do.
Choosing to act with humility towards others is to see them as worthy, God-loved individuals.
Humility also finds expression in a childlike faith. This childlikeness commended by Jesus is seen in eagerness to know and absorb, and a ready acceptance of what is taught.
Jesus encourages a childlike trust and confidence, but not a juvenile dependency. We are never going to be literally told everything we are to do; "the good works He has prepared for those who love Him". Instead we are instructed to pray, let the Word shine its light, and choose.
Humility flows out of a maturing trust in God.
When we are young in the faith we tend to approach the Son, or Father, as a heavenly genie, a 'wish fulfiller' of whom we sometimes petulantly demand He do such and such. With maturity, a love for Christ alone blossoms. The focus is more centred on the giver than the gifts.
This includes times in our lives when Jesus is holding a shepherd’s staff or pruner’s shears or carpenter’s adze. Humility and confidence in God, two sides of the same coin, says I know the hand that holds these implements is the hand of a craftsman and I will submit to His shaping.
Humble submission, a lowliness of mind and heart with a quiet spirit, are the embossed characteristics on the coin that is servanthood.
"Legalism is good at producing false humility but Jesus’ model of humility, "not considering equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing...", is to become a Holy Spirit fruit in our lives, a nourishing and life sustaining fruit."
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This outlook runs contrary to the cultural gospel of Western nations where ambition is encouraged and rewarded, where self improvement is a cornerstone, where pride is often presented as a virtue, where growing and getting more is the essence of success, where being famous even if only for the fact you are famous has spread beyond US borders, where taking things into your own hands is the mettle to be admired, where getting ahead is defined by economics, where we are told to live as lord of our own life and make our own destiny in a world of our own creation... ad nauseam.
God calls us to Eden not Babel.
Our driving energy is to faithfully follow Christ and grow in Holy Spirit fruit. God is the centre of family and other relationships, work and other commitments.
Knowing God and knowing how He views us through the life and sacrifice of Jesus entwines strength into our DNA, a strength that is humility and a quiet spirit.
Only grace can achieve this. Legalism is good at producing false humility but Jesus’ model of humility, "not considering equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing...", is to become a Holy Spirit fruit in our lives, a nourishing and life sustaining fruit.
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