Ever try to be humble? Maybe you have been reminded by the Holy Spirit that you need to be more Christ-like in your attitude than you currently are, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:5 to “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.”
So, you work at humility. You think you nailed it. You start thinking, I am humble(!), which of course defeats humility right then and there. Humility is difficult because if we focus our attention on it, or if we chase it, we end up catching pride instead.
Paul gave us the recipe for humility. “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” [Philippians 2:3-4]
Humility is not trying to think less of ourselves, it is not thinking of ourselves first. It is considering the welfare of others more important and looking out for their well-being. Throughout the Scriptures are pathways to humility and they always lead us through the lives of others.
Let us understand. We are to provide for our needs and families surely, Scriptures are clear on that. We are to practice good spiritual self-care. But, when others need our time, our resources, our provisions, our encouragement, good will, comfort, or compassion—and we can provide those things—then we are to provide them. We give even if it means we sacrifice to do so. Most of us have far more than we really need anyway.
Perhaps, the most precious of all things we have to give others in need is our time. When we spend our time for others, humility slips in and takes up residence in our hearts.