The Christian virtue of humility begins with understanding our total dependence upon God and valuing others above ourselves. Humility is not a sign of weakness or low self-esteem; it is the
recognition of God’s grace and sovereignty in our lives. This virtue is rooted in knowing that God is greater than we are, and he is our only source of salvation. A lack of arrogance or a modest view of ourselves often characterizes humility. However, the biblical view of humility goes beyond this. According to the Bible, humility is an essential part of godliness. Scripture calls us to be humble followers of Christ relying on God’s wisdom and salvation rather than our own.
The perfect example of humility in the Bible is Jesus Christ, who humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on the Cross (Philippians 2:8). Jesus taught his disciples to be humble and to serve one another as he did by washing their feet (John 13:1-17). Jesus warned of the dangers of pride and hypocrisy which oppose humility. He said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
Being humble is not just about how we relate to God; it helps us love our neighbors as ourselves, bear with one another in love, and forgive as we have been forgiven. Humility also helps us be teachable and remain open to correction. It leads us to admit our mistakes and weaknesses and seek help when needed.
Church musicians have had a challenging relationship with humility. We may receive the approval of the congregation with joy, and criticism with defensiveness. Either of these responses can indicate a musician’s lack of humility. We must constantly remind ourselves that we serve God’s mission when we offer our music. How others respond to it is the work of the Spirit—that he would use our offerings to further the kingdom of God is a humbling reminder as we prepare and present music for worship.
Humility is a gift from God that we grow in by his grace. Often, the harder we work to be humble, the farther we get from true humility. One way to grow in humility is to meditate on the Scriptures that reveal God’s character and his works, especially the life and death of Jesus Christ. Practicing prayer, self-control, generosity, and confession are other ways of developing humility, as these help us detach ourselves from the world and rely on God’s mercy. Another way is to seek the guidance and accountability of other Christians who can encourage and challenge us in our walk with God. Humility is less about recognizing how lowly we are and more about recognizing how great God is. When we are humble, we do not seek our glory or interests but seek to glorify God and serve others.
Embracing humility is at the heart of Christianity because it reflects our deepest understanding of what God has done for us. He has created us in his image, redeemed us by his Son’s sacrifice, sanctified us through his Spirit, and called us to share in his eternal glory. Humility is the proper response to such amazing grace. C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”
by Jeff Faux, Sacred Arts Director
