In recent interactions with two different professionals who were competing for our business, one major thing stood out – humility vs. pride.
One spoke with genuine care “I want what is best for you”. The other criticized the competition and told me he was the best.
This contrast reminds me of Luke Chapter 7 where we see powerful examples of people demonstrating humility – not the kind that is spoken, but the kind that comes from the heart.
There’s the Roman centurion who requested Jesus to heal his servant. The centurion was quite powerful in that he led soldiers (v8) and was a supporter of the Jewish people and built the local synagogue (v5). This centurion could have easily summoned Jesus or anyone to go anywhere at any time, yet he deemed himself unworthy to have Jesus under his roof (v6).
There’s also the “sinful woman” who wept at the feet of Jesus, wiping his feet with her tears and her hair, and with expensive ointment (v38). At the same time, there were others in the scene who were arrogant and criticized Jesus for his approach. Jesus was a guest at this meal, so the people who criticized him should have been the first to show him kindness, mercy, and grace.
Some takeaways:
1. It was easy to identify who was “in the right”, however I know I’m guilty of being prideful.
2. Both in business and in scripture we see the benefits of humility, from winning the deal to physical healing, answered prayers, and forgiveness of sins.
3. Our ultimate example is Jesus – the humblest person who ever lived. He was perfect, he raised people from the dead, he healed, he forgave, all in the face of betrayal and objections by various leaders and angry sinful people (like every one of us sometimes).
In the end, humility deepens trust, fosters genuine connection in any relationship (whether human or spiritual), and paves the way to grace and mercy. It is not our acts nor how people see us on the outside, but our hearts. Humility brought Jesus to death on a cross and to the resurrection, all so that we too can have eternal life should we choose to be humble enough to call him Lord.