GRACE ANCHORED JOURNEY

While waiting in line to pay my bills, I overheard a woman arguing with a staff. The woman with that scary look was talking with a rising tone that seemed like a composed outcry.

“Don’t you know who I am?” she told the frightened and teary-eyed staff. Later on, I guess the boss of that staff intervened and talked to that lady. A few minutes passed by, the woman walked confidently with that angry demeanor.

I learned that the woman was insisting something that is out of the company’s policy. The staff who tried to explain the policy was being scorned and belittled. There was nothing much that she could do to appease this woman because she is just a poor worker who’s trying to follow the rule.

As I walked out the door, I could not help but think how this world is full of people who are so full of themselves.

It dawned on me how this system is sometimes taking over me. I have been a Christian for quite some time but I am not excluded in this sin of pride.

In a world of self-exaltation, how could a Christian live in true humility?

Humility is a character that a Christian must long for. Without this, it is impossible for us to walk by grace as we are still in a world where constant contact with people is vital and inevitable. It is something that we need to possess as we learn more about God each day.

The Scripture exhorts us how pride will destroy a person. Satan, in his pride wants to be equal with God. True enough, pride comes first before destruction and haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Jesus is the ultimate example to follow

True humility cannot be attained and learned without looking at the cross. Jesus in His power and might came down to experience mockery and shame through hanging Himself on the cross. It always amazes me to think of what He did just for a sinner like me. I could not grasp that despite being God, he bore the pain and shame in Calvary. This motivates me to follow His example whenever the temptation to be proud comes around. I always ask myself, “Who are you? Are you better than God?”

Is it really hard to humble ourselves before others? Without the grace of God, it is impossible. Like what my missionary friend always says, “The only thing that will remain from a person when you take everything from him is himself and his pride.”

When we choose to humble ourselves, the temptation to be proud still lingers in a case to case basis. However, it is not the temptation that makes us sin– is our response to that temptation. We either give in to that temptation and sin, or we choose to look to Jesus and surrender our ill feeling to Him.

Do not exalt yourself

Philippians 2:5-11 captured the essence of Jesus’ humility “who being in the form of God made himself of no reputation, and took the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross.” (paraphrased)

Like the woman in my story above, she relied on who she is. She is a manager. She has a good status in terms of power, position, and possession that’s why she is confident thinking that she could demand.

In the Lord, there is no distinction of race, status, position, possession, neither good background. Sometimes, where we come from becomes our bragging rights.

The world teaches us to exalt ourselves. It dictates us to focus and lift ourselves up so we can be great in the sight of men. Yet, the Scripture tells us that “whosoever therefore shall humble himself is the greatest in the kingdom of God.” Matthew 23:11 says that “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

Thus, in God’s kingdom, humility is exalted.

Whenever I think of humility, I always remember my father. Growing up, we did not have much in life. And, I could vividly remember how some of his relatives looked down on him just because he did not have much. But I never saw him fight back. I was the one who always wanted to get back. He would always tell us not to take revenge and let God deal with them. We were not yet a Christian before but my father had already showed how it meant to let things pass, and in humility, accept reproach.

Now, I realized that my father is right. Pride will burn bridges. It cuts ties with people. Humility, on the other hand, restores and protects relationship and fellowship with others.

Consider others more

It is easy to think of our own welfare first and foremost. Nevertheless, one key to humbling ourselves is to consider other more than ourselves.

Paul understood that as human, we are prone to looking at ourselves first and he reminded us to esteem others better than ourselves.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Considering others first requires dying to ourselves so we can put others before us. I believe that in doing this, there are moments that we feel offended, experience hurt, or even belittled. But dying to self is also a decision to let our fleshly desire be offered at the feet of Jesus so we can exalt Him and not ourselves.

Humility is not learned overnight nor easily manifested. It is a constant effort to crucify our selfish desires and take a leap of faith to follow the footsteps of Jesus. More so, humility is not achievable without love.

Love for Jesus and others will compel us to humble ourselves and consider others more.

Humility is not directed towards others just so we can gain their favor. Humility is not choosing to remain quiet when an argument arises just so we won’t light the fire. True humility is a character that is based on the Person of Jesus. It is the understanding that we are not better than others. That we ought to put others above us so we can better exude God’s character. In the end, our ultimate purpose is that people would see Jesus through us.