Many verses and stories in the scriptures stress the importance of humility in the lives of believers. But what does being humble really mean in the Bible? How can Christians practice humility in a way that God desires? In this article, we’ll answer these questions in detail, concentrating on the relevance of this godly virtue.
Generally, humble people are those who don’t exhibit signs of pride such as arrogance and boastfulness. However, the Bible makes us understand that humility is more than just a lack of pride. True humility is a way of life that reveals the true character of Christ that all Christians must emulate.
There are several examples of humility in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and New Testament, that we can learn from as followers of Christ. Let’s focus on them as we talk about what living a life of humility truly means.
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While there are several meanings of humility in the Bible, let’s discuss 8 of them.
1. Obedience to God’s Commands
Being humble can be defined as being obedient to God’s commands and instructions. For someone to decide to do the things the Lord requires of them, they must have a humble heart.
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Abraham was a godly man who practiced total obedience because of the fear of the Lord in his heart. He proved his obedience to God by preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac based on divine instructions.
Instead of questioning the Lord’s command, Abraham did exactly as he was told because he knew everything he had belonged to God (Genesis 22:1-18). And the Lord came through for him, sparing the life of Isaac, the son of promise.
Because of this act of humility, the Lord swore by himself to bless Abraham and make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17).
Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, disobeyed God’s commands because of his haughty spirit. The king’s rebellion against God led to his destruction and that of his officers in the Red Sea (Exodus 15:4). Any believer who claims to have a humble mind must prove it through consistent and total obedience to God’s commands in His word.
Another practical meaning of humility is submission to the will of God. Christ Jesus gave the perfect example of humble submission to God when he sacrificed his life for the sins of man on the cross of Calvary.
Thrice, the Lord Jesus Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, pleading that the cup of God’s wrath should be taken away from him. But he ended his prayers the three times saying, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:36-46).
Many believers want to reap the benefits of humility, but they don’t want to pay the price that comes with it. The truth is, submitting to the will of God can be difficult sometimes because we love doing things that seem right in our own eyes. Nevertheless, it is one of the ways to show that we trust in God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
In the Book of Philippians 2:5-8, Apostle Paul encourages all followers to Christ to,
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
As a result of Jesus’ submission, the Bible says God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every other name. If you want God to lift you up, you must have a lowly spirit.
Biblical humility involves a lack of interest in competing for status or recognition in society. One of the reasons Jesus Christ wasn’t pleased with the way of the lives of the Pharisees and the scribes was because of their desperation for recognition. In the book of Mark 12:38-40, the Bible says,
“And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
Despite all the miracles Jesus performed, he never tried to blow his own trumpet or force people to respect him. Even when Jesus was addressed as “good teacher” by a certain ruler, he responded that no one is good, except God alone. (Luke 18:18-19).
In our walk with God, we must always resist the temptation to show off our achievements. Let us learn to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and he will lift us up at the proper time. (1 Peter 5:6)
4. Willingness to Serve Others
According to God’s word, humility is the desire to serve others without expecting any reward in return. Despite being the son of God and the Messiah, Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples to teach them what being humble really means (John 13:5).
In the book of Matthew 20:20-28, the mother of James and John came to meet Jesus to make a request. She said to the master, “In your kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
Jesus explained to everyone present that they shouldn’t behave like the rulers of the gentiles, who exercise authority over others. But whoever wants to be great among them must first become a servant.
Jesus teaches in these verses of the scriptures that people of the world want to be in leadership positions because of their selfish ambition. However, things don’t work that way in the kingdom of God; if anyone wants to be a leader, they must value the interests of others more than their own interests. God pays attention to people who exhibit this humble behavior, and he elevates them to a higher position.
Being able to accept that one’s behavior is inappropriate and also make the necessary changes can be described as humility.
From human point of view, the sins of King David were more grievous than those of King Saul.
Not only did King David commit adultery, he also killed the husband of Bathsheba, the woman he committed adultery with.
Nevertheless, he took responsibility for his misbehaviors when the prophet of the Lord informed him of his wicked ways (2 Samuel 11-12).
The Bible verses in Psalm 51 reveal that King David was genuinely remorseful about his sinful actions and would have done things differently if given the chance. King Saul, on the other hand, committed the sin of partial obedience, and instead of accepting his wrongdoings, he came up with excuses as to why he did it.
As a result of Saul’s rebellious and prideful behavior, the Lord rejected him as king. (1 Samuel 13 and 15). Because the spirit of God left the king, his life ended in shame and misery. (1 Samuel 31).
As humans, we prefer it when people praise or complement us rather than when they call our attention to an improper behavior. But it takes someone with lowliness of mind to see corrections as a way to work on their attitude and to grow spiritually.
Being humble in the Bible is the same thing as being gentle and modest. The verses of the scriptures in 1 Peter 3:3-4 don’t apply to women only but to everyone who desires to live a simple and humble life. It says,
“Do not let your adorning be external; the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear. But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
These verses of the scriptures implies that while it’s good to take care of our outward appearance and look beautiful, it’s not important. What’s important is to have the spirit of meekness, which is more attractive than any external adornment.
God develops a special interest in believers who are meek and modest, just like He did with Moses. The Bible says in Numbers 12:3, “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.”
Because of Moses’ godly attributes, including humility, the Lord endowed him with the spirit of leadership and the grace to do exploits (Exodus 14). Indeed, God will always give grace to those who are humble, and He will resist the proud. (James 4:6).
Believing that we’ve been saved by grace through faith and not by our works is another way to show humility (Ephesians 2:8). When we hold on to this belief, it will reflect in the way we behave towards those who don’t know Christ.
Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the book of Luke 18:9-14; to caution those who look down on others because of their self-righteous attitude.
In this parable, the two men went to pray in the temple, and the Pharisee began to mention the religious activities he performs regularly. But the tax collector acknowledged his sinful nature and asked God to have mercy on him. Jesus ended this parable by saying that the tax collector went home justified rather than the Pharisee.
Just as Jesus did not discriminate against sinners during his earthly mission, we must also accept them wholeheartedly. It is through our interaction with unbelievers that we can share the message of salvation with them.
8. Honoring Everyone Equally
Treating both the rich and the needy with respect and honor is a sign of being humble.
Generally, people tend to honor and associate with those who are rich and influential because of the benefits they stand to gain from them.
But the Bible commands us in Romans 12:16 to “live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
James 2:1-9 also speaks against treating people with low income unfairly while honoring the rich. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the Lord, regardless of their financial status, social status, race, or nationality.
Moreover, each person is unique and valuable even if their appearance and current situation proves otherwise; Naaman would have missed out on divine healing if he didn’t regard the words of his wife’s female servant (2 Kings 5).
So, it is important for believers to treat everyone with dignity and respect, no matter their present situation. God is the rewarder, and He will repay everyone according to their deeds, whether good or bad.
Final Thoughts
There are many promises in the Bible for those who humble themselves under God’s mighty hand. Similarly, several verses of the scriptures tell us of the serious repercussions of having a haughty spirit.
Therefore, we must try our best to let go of every prideful behavior and embrace a humble personality. Humility has several benefits, while pride has none.
Although being humble in the Bible can mean many things, find out whether your behaviors align with the points we discussed in this article for a start.
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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