Humility. Being humble. Living with humility.
I have lived, worked, and served alongside a number of helpful and inspiring examples of humility.
And, I have come to know the value of humility most clearly in the person of Jesus.
Your attitude must be the same of that of Christ Jesus: Christ, though, in the image of God, didn’t deem equality with God something to be clung to – but instead became completely empty and took on the image of oppressed humankind: born into the human condition, found in the likeness of a human being. Jesus was thus humbled – obediently accepting death, even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8 (The Inclusive Bible)
I have also come to expect that humility won’t be headline news. It isn’t something that I expect to hear in the prevailing American culture.
As a result, I was surprised not only by the content but also the viral nature of the remark made recently by one of the National Basketball League’s best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo. At age 26, Antetokounmpo has already won two league Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, and was named Finals MVP in 2021 for his efforts in helping his team win it’s first championship in 50 years.
When you focus on the past, that’s your ego. ‘I did this. I won that.’ … When I focus on the future, that’s my pride. ‘I’m going to dominate.’ That’s your pride talking. … I try to focus on the moment. In the present. That’s humility. That’s being humble. … That’s a skill I’m trying to master. And it’s been working so far. So I’m not going to stop.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
So What?
Developing a working definition of humility that resonates with you and that is consistent with your overall beliefs is hard but worthwhile work. Even more important, however, is committing to do your best to live into that definition each and every day.
Thinking in-depth about humility is countercultural, and it can also be life-giving. To the best of my knowledge, I’ve only ever preached directly on the topic once: Titleless.