HOLY MANNERS
Humility
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation
of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and
compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same
love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or
empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important
than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but
also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)
One of the most difficult yet one of the most essential Holy Manners to develop
is humility. We hear much about boldness and courage. We hear little about
humility. To us it seems that boldness and courage go well together, but
humility goes with neither. Perhaps the human concepts of boldness and courage
easily become self-centered expressions (we like self-dependence) and humility
becomes a selfless expression (we are wary of dependence on anything other than
self).
It takes enormous boldness and courage to yield to God so completely that you
allow God to defend you and determine your behavior. On numerous occasions,
Jesus tried to teach the twelve God’s admiration of humility (see Luke 9:46-48;
18:15-17; 22:24-30; Matthew 18:1-6; 20:20-28; Mark 9:33-37). Not until Jesus’
death and resurrection did they learn that lesson. Do not be deceived! The
lesson is NOT learned easily! To think and behave righteously in the middle of
an unrighteous onslaught is hard!
Even those who profess godliness mistake humility for cowardice! Yet, in a
parable in Luke 18:9-14, the humble sinner was forgiven, not the man who “dotted
the i’s and crossed the t’s.”
That is hard for even us Christians to swallow! The person who gave God 10% of
everything, who was honest in his dealings with others, who was not controlled
by sexual desires, and who fasted insulted God! The penitent man who
unquestionably did wicked things was forgiven! Why? Because sinful behavior was
unimportant? No! Because God exalts human humility and debases human arrogance!
Paul said if everything you believe about righteousness is true, make me
completely happy. How? Do not be self-centered! Be ‘others’ centered! Who was
the example of that? None other than Jesus himself!
If I am your brother or sister in Christ because God placed us both there when
we were baptized into Christ, Holy Manners demand I consider you and your needs
as more important than mine. To arrogantly banish you is just plain rude!
How many problems would be instantly solved in our brotherhood and our
congregations if humility reigned and arrogance vanished. Understanding the
importance God attaches to humility certainly makes this statement sobering:
“Now concerning things sacrificed to
idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love
edifies.” (1 Corinthians 8:1)
David Chadwell
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Bulletin Article, 28 June 2007
Link to other
Writings of David Chadwell
