“With the same intensity that God, in the Bible, hates arrogance, God loves humility. Could that be the reason that He offers so many tips on cultivating it? ‘May I, ahem, humbly articulate a few?’ asks Max Lucado in his book, Traveling Light.
- Assess yourself honestly. Humility isn’t the same as low self-esteem. ‘Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you.’ (Rom. 12:3 PHILLIPS)
- Don’t take success too seriously. Scripture gives this warning: ‘When your… silver and gold increase, … your heart will become proud.’ (Deut. 8:13-14). Counteract this pride with reminders of the brevity of life and the frailty of wealth.
- Celebrate the significance of others. ‘In humility consider others better than yourselves.’ (Phil. 2:3 NIV). Columnist Rick Reilly gave this advice to rookie pro athletes: ‘Stop thumping your chest. The line blocked, the quarterback threw you a perfect spiral while getting his head knocked off, and the good receiver blew the double coverage. Get over yourself.’ Every touchdown is a team effort.
- Don’t demand your own parking place. This was the instruction of Jesus to his followers: ‘Go sit in a seat that is not important. When the host comes to you, he may say, ‘Friend, move up here to a more important place.’ Then all the other guests will respect you.’ (Luke 14:10). Demanding respect is like chasing a butterfly. Chase it, and you’ll never catch it. Sit still, and it may light on your shoulder. The French philosopher Blaise Pascal asked, ‘Do you wish people to speak well of you? Then never speak well of yourself.’ Maybe that’s why the Bible says, ‘Don’t praise yourself. Let someone else do it.’ (Prov. 27:2).
- Never announce your success before it occurs. Or as one of the kings of Israel said, ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’ (1 Kings 20:11 NIV). If humility precedes an event, then confidence may follow.
- Speak humbly. ‘Let no arrogance come from your mouth.’ (1 Sam. 2:3 NKJV). Don’t be cocky. People aren’t impressed with your opinions. Take a tip from Benjamin Franklin. ‘(I developed) the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest (shy) diffidence, never using when I advance anything that may possibly be disputed, the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others that give the air of positiveness to an opinion, but rather I say, I conceive or I apprehend a thing to be so or so… This habit I believe has been a great advantage to me.’
- Live at the foot of the cross. Paul said, ‘The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for bragging.’ (Gal. 6:1-4). Do you feel a need for affirmation? Does your self-esteem need attention? You don’t need to drop names or show off. You need only pause at the base of the cross and be reminded of this: The maker of the stars would rather die for you than live without you. And that is a fact. So if you need to brag, brag about that.”
Traveling Light, Max Lucado, p. 74-77.
