Knowing My Place

Sometimes the best way to get at the biblical meaning of a word is to strip it of all the false notions that encrust it. Within evangelicalism, humility is a subject that collects mistaken ideas like a picnic attracts flies. Identifying it and defining it is easier when we have first chased the flies away.

The Greek word most commonly translated “humble” is tapeinos, which literally means “not rising far from the ground”. It is an attribute of the Lord Jesus in his role as the last Adam. He could say, “I am gentle and lowly [tapeinos] in heart.”

So then, let’s have a quick look at what humility is and is not.

Humility ISN’T

Humility is NOT the same as being humbled. Even if both get you into to the same (low) place, being humbled is the result of a set of circumstances you could not control, while humility is a mindset. Not rising far from the ground doesn’t mean you couldn’t get up if you wanted to, but that you have deliberately chosen not to; the job at hand is down on the ground and needs doing. It’s the opposite of pride. Humility is not imposed, but willingly assumed.

Humility is NOT being confused about your intrinsic worth or competence. The Lord Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped even though he was “in the form of God”. Humility was not necessary to the Lord Jesus in his pre-incarnate heavenly glory; rather, it was an attitude he adopted in becoming truly man. “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” In doing so, he was in no doubt about his value to his Father or his comparative moral status. How could he be? The Father kept pointing it out. The place the Lord Jesus took in this world was no reflection of his true value, and he did not claim it was. Steadfastly refusing to judge does not mean you are unequipped to do it perfectly.

Humility is NOT refusing to take the lead or exercise authority. The Lord Jesus could say, “I am gentle and lowly in heart” in the very same breath as “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me”, which sounds a great deal like a command, not just sound advice. He washed the feet of his disciples while giving them instructions and correcting their false notions.

Humility is NOT submission. They are similar, but not identical. Humility is an attitude while submission is an action. It is therefore possible to concede on one issue while maintaining a resentful, angry spirit determined to win next time out. That’s submission, but it’s not terribly humble. It is also possible to give direct commands to others in a spirit of humility, as Paul often did. That’s humble, but it’s certainly not submissive. A wife who performs the role God has given her in life while simmering with resentment is submissive, but not humble. Christ was both.

Humility is NOT indecision or uncertainty. A well-known and generally sound Bible teacher recently wrote, “In the nature of the case, the wise parents will be humble, and therefore not that sure about how wise they are being.” Wrong. The Lord Jesus never lacked certainty. The greater the certainty, the better the parenting, provided the certainty comes from sure knowledge of God’s word and obedience to it. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Rather, a humble parent recognizes his job is to serve his child spiritually, and that’s what he or she sets about doing, prioritizing the spiritual development of their child over all, including their own comfort. Humility is not about contemplating your own spiritual status in a vacuum, but about raising up the other guy and giving him the best chance of pleasing God.

Humility IS

So then, humility is an attitude of mind that recognizes the role God has given me and performs it joyfully. (“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation.”) It’s knowing my place and loving it.