Unveiling the Power of Humility in God’s Character and Our Lives
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
– Matthew 23:12 NKJV
The first two posts in this series explored God’s compassion and mercy—profound attributes that reveal His heart toward us. As I planned to continue with a discussion on God’s grace, I felt a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit, guiding me instead to focus on humility. Trusting that God always knows best, this post centers on the attribute of humility, following the same format as before: we’ll define humility, examine how it’s demonstrated in the Bible, and reflect on how Christians are called to embody it in daily life.
What Is Humility?
On a basic level, humility means a lack of pride or arrogance—the sense that you aren’t more important than others. Psychologists describe it as a combination of “low self-prioritization” (not seeking to promote yourself) and “high prioritization of others”—genuinely caring about their needs and valuing their well-being above your own.[1] Pastor Rick Warren, in his audio message for Day 20 of his book The Purpose Driven Life, adds a spiritual dimension, saying humility is having a realistic view of ourselves, appreciating our infinite value but also recognizing that we are deeply flawed. Warren beautifully summarizes biblical humility as being so focused on loving God and others that we forget to focus on ourselves. True humility isn’t thinking less of ourselves; it’s simply thinking of ourselves less because our attention is set on serving God and those around us.[2]
Biblical Portraits of Humility
Scripture paints vivid pictures of humility—and its opposite. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve’s desire to be like God led them down a path of pride and disobedience.
“Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God …” (Genesis 3:4-5 NKJV).
In contrast, Noah responded to God’s command with humble obedience, constructing an ark even though the concept of rain was foreign. Abraham’s faith was rooted in humility; he left behind everything familiar, trusting that God’s wisdom was far greater than his own.
Over and over, the Bible shows that God values humility. Joseph’s journey is a prime example— through dreams that God had given him, Joseph knew that he was destined for greatness. He was also favored by his father, which may have caused him to be prideful. God allowed him to endure betrayal, slavery, and injustice. These hardships humbled Joseph and prepared him to lead with wisdom and compassion, eventually reconciling with his brothers and fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. Moses whose God-given destiny was to lead the nation of Israel out of Egyptian slavery was brought up in Pharoah’s palace as the adopted son of Pharoah’s daughter through God’s pre-determined plan. When Moses was about forty years old, he tried to deliver Israel from slavery through his own power but failed miserably. This caused him to flee the wrath of Pharoah, and he ended up living in the wilderness herding sheep for the next forty years of his life. Only after he was humbled in the wilderness for those forty years did God call him to lead Israel out of Egypt.
David, anointed as Israel’s king in his youth but hunted for years by Saul, learned humility through adversity and always returned to God with a repentant heart whenever he sinned. His humility and compassion earned him the title “a man after [God’s] own heart” (Acts 13:22 NKJV). Even Paul, once a fierce persecutor of Christians, was transformed into an apostle after his dramatic encounter with Jesus in which he was literally and figuratively knocked down off his high horse. His life, filled with adversity following his conversion, helped to transform him into God’s humble servant who ultimately wrote a significant portion of the New Testament. Additionally, John the Baptist exemplified humility by pointing others to Jesus, saying, “He must increase but I must decrease” (John 3:30, NKJV). Throughout these biblical narratives, one truth stands out: God uses humble people for His greatest purposes. As Dr. Charles Stanley often said, “Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.”
The Value of Humility in God’s Eyes
The Bible is filled with verses that highlight the importance of humility. “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5, NKJV). Proverbs 3:34 and 11:2 echo this, teaching that wisdom and grace are given to the humble. 2 Chronicles 7:14 promises forgiveness and healing when God’s people humble themselves and pray. Psalm 25:9 tells us that God guides and teaches the humble. Philippians 2:3 calls us to put others first, seeking their good above our own. Again and again, humility is presented as the pathway to wisdom, honor, and God’s favor.
Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Example of Humility
Jesus stands in stark contrast to Adam and Eve. Although He is God, Jesus willingly set aside His divine privileges, entering our world as a helpless baby. He was born in a humble stable and lived a simple life as a carpenter and itinerant rabbi. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus showed His absolute authority over sickness, death, demons, and nature by healing the sick, raising the dead, freeing people from demons, turning water into wine, calming storms, and even walking on water. Yet, He did all this with compassion and joy, warmly welcoming little children, inviting women into His closest circle, and reaching out to those society considered untouchable. Ultimately, He endured the most humiliating death on a cross—all to save humanity.
Living Out Humility Today
As followers of Christ, we’re called to model the humility that Jesus lived out. Philippians 2:5-7 encourages us to adopt His mindset, reminding us that true humility isn’t about thinking less of ourselves or doubting our abilities. Instead, it’s about recognizing our dependence on God, valuing others, and looking for ways to serve those around us. When humility shapes our hearts, we reflect God’s character and become open to His transforming work.
Pride, on the other hand, is the opposite of humility. As Warren wisely observes, pride is a flaw we easily notice in others yet rarely see in ourselves. Pride often leads to conflict and broken relationships, while humility helps us build strong connections and repair those that have been damaged. Pride makes us quick to take offense, criticize, judge, and blame. Humility, however, moves us to show others that they are valued, take ownership of our part in disagreements, offer grace and forgiveness, put others’ needs before our own, and even give up our rights when necessary. This kind of living goes against the grain of our culture—and it’s only possible when we choose to surrender ourselves to God.
May we pursue humility in every area of life, trusting that God lifts up the humble and uses them for His greatest purposes.
[1] Wright, Jennifer Cole, et al. “The psychological significance of humility.” The Journal of Positive Psychology 12.1 (2017): 3-12.
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