Getting Ourselves out of the Way

On the syllabus for my second semester of seminary Greek, the professor wrote after the date of the final exam: “You are now Greek scholars.” At the end of the semester, feeling a sense of accomplishment over what we had learned, we asked the professor if this statement really was true. “Well,” he replied, “You know just enough to be dangerous.”

My professor, Dr. Davis, was a Greek scholar of excellence. He knew his stuff. We students, on the other hand, were only at the beginning of the learning curve. One day we discussed a sermon heard by one of my classmates, who had issue with a speaker’s interpretation of the text in light of the original Greek. It occurred to us that Dr. Davis probably had to struggle with this kind of thing often. He knew so much–and statements occasionally get made from the platform that must make him cringe. One of my classmates asked him: “What do you do when you hear something taught incorrectly? Do you go to the preacher and tell him?”

Dr. Davis smiled sheepishly. “I try to hear the good parts in what he is saying,” he said, “And trust the Holy Spirit to work in the teacher’s life.”

His attitude was a lesson to us in humility: something every seminary student must learn. Because knowledge can puff up, leading to discouragement in those around us. We were not given spiritual gifts to benefit ourselves; they were specifically given to build up the church.

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” Peter wrote. Humility is not an easy attitude to cultivate. It is a decision to put the needs and interests of others above our own. It is a determination to ignore our natural desires for importance and recognition in the interest of building others up. Cultivating humility goes against everything in us that screams for self-satisfaction and significance.

Humility is a part of a long list of biblical principles opposite to how the world views things. Do you want to be a leader? Then be the servant of all (Mark 9:35). Do you want to be wise? Then become a “fool” for Christ (1 Corinthians 3:18). Do you want to be exalted? Then cultivate the attitude of humility (James 4:10).

Why humility? It could not be more appropriate that we who follow a crucified Lord would seek to imitate Him in his humility. When humble, we look beyond our own nose and find our identity in Christ. Jesus told his disciples in Mark 8:35: “whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” We can only know God’s best for us when our hearts and attitudes are wholly focused on Him. Cultivating humility gets ourselves out of the way.

How do we cultivate humility? It is a discipline, as much of a discipline as prayer or Bible study. It is a decision to value others and treat them according to God’s perspective: as passionately loved and valued individuals.

Thérèse of Lisieux, 19th century nun and canonized saint (pictured above), made it her business to put others above herself. It was her conviction that small, every day acts of humility pleased the Lord more than great deeds of recognized holiness. So she purposefully sought out the menial tasks, helped those she knew would be ungrateful for her efforts, and befriended those most difficult to love.

Near the end of her life, one very difficult sister rubbed Thérèse the wrong way every time she turned around. Rather than avoid this intolerable colleague, Thérèse set herself to treat her as if she loved her best of all. She succeeded. At Thérèse’s death, that same woman confidently declared, “During her life, I made her really happy.”

We can do the same. Daily opportunities abound for us to choose others over ourselves, selflessness over selfishness. Choosing humility is a dying to self, which ultimately clears the way for Christ to be reflected in us.

“For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh… for momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:11