Humility can mean modesty, subservience, giving up your rights, being last taking on a task that no one else wants. These attributes are slowly being eaten away in our current society.  Somehow we no longer feel we can be successful with a humble attitude.  We’re taught at an early age to be proud of our accomplishments, no matter how small.  We’re awarded certificates or medals to make us think we’re better than we really are. Look at the Cowardly Lion, for example.  He had already proven his courage, but he didn’t think so until he had something to acknowledge it.

Our kids are given praise for doing a great job.  People in the workplace pat each other on the back for a job well done, when it was simply the job they were paid to do. Praise is a good thing when you’re trying to lift someone up, but humility is almost a forgotten word today.  Even our president has no qualms about calling himself a genius.  Most of the world leaders today suffer from a lack of humility.

Jesus was the perfect example for us.  He is God, yet He humbled Himself, became a man, left His throne in heaven and was born into a life of poverty.  He worked hard, side by side with his step father.  He studied in the temple and discussed the Words of scripture with the most learned men around.  He went into the desert to be prepared for His ministry and was tempted by the devil.  Jesus used the Word to condemn his enemy.  He preached to hungry ears who were longing for freedom from their Roman captivity.  They too were poor and needed a savior, but they hoped for a king, not a man like them.  He gathered a group of core followers, who would desert him at His most difficult time.  He washed their feet and fed them food that would last forever.  He taught them how to pray and live.  He gave no thought to Himself.  He accepted public ridicule for our sake, suffered the lash to the brink of death, hung on a cross and died.  All0 this He did for us, without question, because of His unconditional love for us.

We really need to start teaching our children from early on, what it is to be humble.  We want them to know that humility is a noble characteristic.  In our zeal to make them feel great about themselves, we may be doing them more harm than good.  Part of what has occurred over the years is that we’ve become a nation of narcissists.  “Me” is the word of the day and what “We” can get out of life is all important.

As Christians, we should follow the example of our Lord, who sacrificed everything for us.  He didn’t have to, but He did it because He loves us.  All of us!

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” 

C.S. Lewis