Tricky Humility

Humility is tricky business.

I’ve attempted to clothe myself in humility. I draped shawls of self deprecation or even shame, thinking I’ve fashioned them just right. Beneath all the layers, though, true humility had entirely disappeared. I’d confused humility with humiliation

I’ve laid awake for hours watching reels in my mind of all that I had gotten wrong, burying myself in the belief that if I studied those mistakes long and hard enough that I could save myself from making them again. I’ve punished myself for sins that had long ago been paid.

I’ve been immobilized by shame and regret, what I believed to be the bedfellows of humility, but were far from it. I was stunned and useless when God still had purpose for me.

Look, though, how I’ve begun the last three paragraphs. “I”. All I.

Humility is setting aside the “I” to focus on the “He”.

Every sin that we dwell on, believing it to define us or to affect our worth, grips unnecessarily a hot coal from a fire Christ has already extinguished. He paid the price for our sins, and does not desire for us to be punished any further.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less”. - C.S. Lewis

We are not called to focus on ourselves, what benefits us, what others may think, or even what maximizes our personal potential. Simultaneously, we are not called to bury our strengths, cower in comparison, or sit immobilized in self doubt.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

When we read “all things”, we should believe it, not as it applies to worldly confidence but as it emboldens us to be eager vessels built for His purpose and capable of moving mountains. 

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5

Through obedience and total submission to God and His will, we can accomplish more than we can imagine. The spotlight, though, remains on God. The priority, His Kingdom. We can't get carried away trying to move mountains God wants to stay put. 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Another translation calls us Masterpieces, but do not miss the words in the verse reminding us who prepared those works we are to do.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

As you clothe yourself in humility, do not belittle or diminish the value of His creation. Appreciate the masterpiece, the abundant branch, the eager vessel as they pertain to the Creator, the Vine, the loving Father who is weaving us into the tapestry of His Kingdom. 

“Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.” - C.S. Lewis