Authentic Humility

Imagine you have the chance to stand on a stage in front of 1 million people, someone has put a microphone in your hand, and they have given you the opportunity to say one thing. What would you say?

For me, without hesitation, I would open my bible app on my phone, try not to freak out that there were 1 million people about to listen to the words coming out of my mouth, and then I would read Romans 12:10.

Romans 12:10 – English Standard Version

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

I’m a competitive person; I want to win. I’m an enneagram 3, and I want to achieve the goal in front of me, no matter what it takes.

This is why I love this passage. It is like a competition, and the only winner is the one who loves those around them.

Later we read the words:

Philippians 2:3-4 -English Standard Version

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Is that the world you see? Is that the life you see in yourself when you look in the mirror? I want it to be the life I see when I examine myself.

However, we all too easily fall into the trap of comparing and competing with those around us.

Pastors do it all time. Who has the biggest church? The most people attending on a weekend? The newest equipment? The largest budget?

Outside of church, we do the same thing. Who has the biggest house? The nicest furniture? The fanciest car…

Does that sound like “in humility counting others more significant than ourselves”?

The Bible gives us one opportunity to try and outdo the people around us. In showing honor.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

– C.S. Lewis

How much better would the world around us look if we took this biblical mindset of competing to outdo one another in showing honor?

If instead of getting coffee and a pastry, we got coffee and the next person’s coffee. Instead of getting mowing our yard and stopping at the edge, we mowed our yard and mowed our neighbor’s too. Instead of getting out of bed at the last possible moment, we got up early and grabbed breakfast for others on our teams.

That’s the challenge; that is how I would spend 60 seconds talking to 1 million people.

How can you #OutHonor someone today?