The Height of Humility

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First there is humility, then there is honor; first there is a low and then a high; a probation and then a liberation; a seed sown and a plant grown; a babe and then the man. To paraphrase 2 Corinthians 4:17, first there is a little suffering and then… a lasting glory.

A Definitional Confusion

Inside the mixed bag of the word humility we spot assorted meanings: freedom from pride or arrogance; low self-regard; a quiet spirit; being courteously respectful of others; a self-forgetfulness; submissiveness; or a sense of unworthiness.

But whose bag of confusion is this, anyway?

And why do we Christians need it?

A Biblical Clue

May I suggest we look at a book — perhaps an especially good book, like the bible? Divine glory and wisdom and truth are in its pages. It attests to he who is the Truth and Wisdom of God, namely Jesus. For us to trace the true meaning of humility, let’s begin with the Word of God.

open bible on table


Twice in the book of Proverbs we read these words:

“Humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33b & 18:12b ESV)

Notice the relationship. Humility comes before honor. To say it another way, honor comes after humility. From this simple and profound truth at least two things are explicit:

  1. Humility & honor are inextricably linked.
  2. Humility is the prerequisite to honor.

A Natural Clue

We see truth and wisdom not only in the Word of God written, but also in the world of God made. Accordingly, we ought to study in order to learn from both special revelation given in scripture and natural revelation given in nature. This leads to our next clue, one of nature.

brown nut on person's left palm

A Nut of Wisdom

We are commended by God to learn from creation, or nature; to consider the ant (Proverbs 6:6-8) so that we will not be sluggish, to observe the lilies and grass of the field (Matthew 6:28-30) so that we will not worry, and to recognize that creation screams “Creator!” (Romans 1:20); thus, all are without excuse.

I submit another lesson. Although the kingly oak tree ascends high in power, it’s first laid low as an acorn in the dirt. Before its limbs multiply and spread to provide shade and shelter to man and beast and creeping things, it’s first a single naked shoot. Before the oak there is the acorn.

So, we principally deduce that what is sown in dishonor is raised in glory; what is sown in weakness is raised in power (1 Cor. 15:43). The acorn starts small and grows great, and it is God who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6b). For anything that is, whether in power or in weakness, only is because God is and because He wills it so. This includes the humility-honor principle.

A Christological Clue

This principle is not accidental or coincidental, but providential. It is divine. That humility comes before honor is plain from the reading of scripture; most plainly in Proverbs — less plain, but nonetheless present, in the myriad persons and events throughout the bible.

Before Moses delivered a nation, he pastured a flock of sheep. Before David ruled as the king, he ran as a fugitive. Before Christ was exalted in splendor and power, he was emptied in shame and weakness.

What, then, do we see?

Not only is this humility-honor principle for the creation and for the creature, but one which the Creator takes for Himself. To follow this thought, see the apostle Paul tell us something remarkable in his letter to the Philippians.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-10 NASB)

The Four E’s

Allow me to paraphrase. Although Christ existed as God, he did not consider himself equal with God. In humility and obedience, he emptied himself unto death on a cross. Thus, God has exalted him above all.

Furthermore, no one has, will, or even can suffer in humility to the depth that Christ has. Christ’s being above all is necessarily, inseparably tethered to his being lower than all. None can descend and none can ascend as he has. At both ends of the humility-honor spectrum, he has been crowned King, for he will be outdone neither in humility nor in honor.

The Last Word

God became man. The deity took on our humanity. In Jesus, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He came as a man among men, a Jew among Jews, a son among sons. As the Son, he came to do the will and work the works of God the Father. In fullness of grace and truth he came to his own, and his own did not receive him.

But his own Father did.

More than that — he has exalted him.

Should you earnestly ponder, “What is humility?”, don’t run to a dictionary or the culture or even a Christian philosopher. Open the Book. Turn and read the pages of truth and wisdom and light and life. Ask God to “open your eyes”, as the psalmist says, so that you may see…

Christ’s humanity, obedience, suffering, and death — this humility is the acorn of the celestial oak
that is the honor of Christ.

Soak your soul in this wonder.

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