Humility, the Virtue That Undergirds the Rest

Of the many virtues we find in the Bible, which is most significant? Love? Holiness? Generosity? Integrity? Selflessness? In Galatians 5:22-23 we find one short list of possibilities: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” But which of all the virtues is most important?

 

We could find strong biblical support for each possibility, including the ones cited above. However, I would suggest another: Humility.

 

Why? First, before looking at what the Scriptures say specifically about humility – or being humble – let’s consider how C.S. Lewis responded when asked a different but related question: “What is the great sin? What sin is worse than any other?” His answer was: 

“There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others… the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison. It was through pride that the Devil became the Devil: Pride leads to every other vice. It is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

 

For more on why Lewis singled out pride, read chapter 8, “The Great Sin,” in his book, Mere Christianity. My thought is that if pride indeed is the greatest sin – and I’m inclined to agree – then the greatest virtue might be its antithesis, humility. One definition of humility is, “the practice of meekness, obedience to God, respect of self and others, submissiveness…putting others’ needs before their own, sacrificing for the love of others.”

 

Think about it: To love others as the Bible teaches, unconditionally and even sacrificially, requires humility; willingly putting others ahead of ourselves. To be patient with others often requires setting our schedules, agendas and desires aside. To be genuinely kind toward others may mean putting their needs ahead of our own. Basically, it’s just the opposite of the “it’s all about me,” “Look out for No. 1!” perspective being promoted by today’s society.

 

Sorry to remind you, but we’re in another national election year, with many major political offices at stake, not the least of which being President of the United States. We’ll have to endure a bombardment of political messages created to exalt their respective candidates who will “approve this ad.” Pride – and its perpetual companion, ego – will be on full display: “I’m the best…my opponent is the worst!” 

 

We won’t see much humility being exhibited during the coming campaign season, yet as Lewis observed, “there is no fault which makes a man more unpopular” than pride. Conversely, there’s something endearing about its counterpart, humility. When an accomplished individual, regardless of their area of expertise, deflects praise and directs credit elsewhere, whether to God, family, teammates, coworkers or whomever, it tends to warm our hearts, doesn’t it?

 

In the Scriptures we find dozens of passages that deal with the virtues of humility. Proverbs 11:2, for example, makes note of both the “great sin” and perhaps, the greatest virtue: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” In Proverbs 18:12 we find the same idea: “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.”

 

“Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life,” Proverbs 22:4 tells us. Another verse that has spoken strongly to me is Proverbs 27:21, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold; but a man is tested by the praise he receives.” When we’re being commended for work well-done, do we risk breaking our arms patting ourselves on the back, or do we give honor and glory to God for giving us the capability for what we’ve achieved?

 

Another reason I consider humility among the greatest of all biblical virtues is because of the example set by the Lord Jesus Christ. Speaking to His disciples, Jesus offered a truth that might have caught them off guard when He said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). They didn’t understand at the time, but He was referring to His impending crucifixion, willingly giving His life to atone for our sins.

 

In the New Testament book of Philippians we're given a wonderful description of humility:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8).

 

There’s no greater demonstration of humility than that. In our humanness, it’s easier to be prideful and egocentric. But following Christ’s example and empowered by His Spirit, our desire should be to heed the apostle Paul’s exhortation: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

We’re not likely to see much of this through the coming months of electoral puffing and pontificating, on the athletic fields, or in the media. But if we’re followers of Jesus, to think and act with humility is indeed part of “the calling [we] have received.” 

The Insidious Snare of Success

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the late Welsh minister and medical doctor, was a well-known expository preacher and author of many books on the Bible and biblical truth. Sounds like he experienced more than his share of success. Given that, it’s interesting that he observed, “the worst thing that can happen to a man is to succeed before he is ready.”

 

Some of us might respond, “Why does he say that?” After all, we all want to succeed in whatever endeavors we choose. The sooner success arrives the better, right?

 

In reality, sudden success can prove to be a slippery slope. We don’t need to name names, but we can all think of pro athletes, entertainers, business leaders and politicians who became celebrated early in their careers only to wind up in a ditch somewhere. People once on the brink of promising, bright futures ending up on the human scrap heap.

There are a number of reasons for this insidious snare, but I think one primary cause is summarized by Proverbs 27:21, which says, “The furnace is for silver and the crucible for gold, but a man is tested by the praise he receives.” Receiving acclaim and fame before one is prepared to handle it properly can prove devastating.

 

But we don’t have to become household names to struggle with handling success. Rising quickly through the ranks at work, winning the lottery, receiving a substantial inheritance, or even gaining positions of influence in our church or community early in our adult lives can result in being “tested by the praise [we] receive.”

 

Readiness to experience success in appropriate ways requires maturity and experience. But you can’t teach experience – or maturity. Those come (hopefully) only with the slow passage of time, seasoned with ample doses of perseverance, struggle, humility – and failure. God can use all of those to shape our character, as we’re told in Romans 5:4.

 

Reading through the Scriptures we find one example after another of individuals who were used in extraordinary ways by the Lord, but only after they had been tried and tested. 

 

Among them was Joseph, who after being sold off by his jealous brothers, then wrongly accused and imprisoned for years, rose to righthand-man status to the pharaoh in Egypt. Moses, raised in the Egyptian pharaoh’s family, was forced into exile for 40 years before God singled him out to lead the Israelites out of Egypt after 400 years of slavery. 

 

Nehemiah was a lowly cupbearer for Persian king Artaxerxes, a responsibility he performed faithfully. Eventually the respect he earned from the king gave him authority to play a key role in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Then there was Daniel, who had been handpicked to train for service to the king in Babylon. He clung to his faith and convictions, refusing to compromise, and over time was accorded a position of great influence.

 

We see how Jesus’ disciples – who after His death and resurrection became apostles taking the Gospel message to both Jews and Gentiles – were carefully prepared for their missional work. Paul didn’t become a fruitful missionary and major contributor to New Testament writings overnight either. After gaining elite status as a Pharisee and persecutor of Christians, he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Even then, God didn’t give him a leadership role with Christ’s followers until nearly a dozen more years of spiritual “seasoning.”

 

This isn’t to say that younger people shouldn’t be entrusted with leadership positions. But the Bible warns of getting caught up in success too soon at any age. As we read in 1 Peter 5:5-6, “Young men, in the same way, be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothes yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”

 

Hard work, determination, initiative, talent and imagination are all ingredients for success. But they are best nurtured over time and utilized with humility, recognizing the gifts God bestows and opportunities He presents – in due time.

Humility: Capacity for Putting Self on the Shelf

Whether it’s athletes, politicians, entertainers, business leaders, or people we encounter every day, we understand the value of confidence and self-assurance. But at the same time, perhaps paradoxically, we also delight in seeing and hearing displays of genuine humility. 

 

We find many examples of non-humility, people with household names who seem consumed with themselves. “Look at me!” “I’m so great!” “Did you see what I’ve done?” Even if their accomplishments are significant, don’t you find attitudes like that extremely off-putting?

 

Not sure who said it first, but here’s a great definition of true humility: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but rather, thinking of yourself less.” It doesn’t mean self-flagellation or self-deprecation. But it does mean, as Romans 12:3 expresses it, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

 

Even for individuals unusually gifted in certain areas, there’s little reason for becoming overly prideful. As the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “…What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” 

 

In other words, even if one can run fast or jump high, speak powerfully in a resonant voice, sing glorious melodies, or influence people through a winning personality, that’s not cause for boasting. We can hone and refine innate talents through training and practice, but we couldn’t have excelled without the raw talents to begin with.

 

It’s become a Christmastime tradition for some people to engage in escapades they call, “Elf on the Shelf.” Humility can be a year-round pursuit – putting self on the shelf.

 

I’ve found an excellent description of this in what I refer to as the “do nothing” verse from the Bible: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). 

 

When we encounter someone sincerely concerned about the needs of other people, even at a cost to themselves, doesn’t that warm our hearts? People like Mother Teresa come to mind, as well as folks who dedicate themselves to working with the homeless and the inner-city poor, schoolteachers resolved to identify the best in every student, and other sacrificial endeavors.

 

We can manifest the so-called Christian life in many ways, but one of the most attractive traits of a true follower of Jesus Christ is humility, not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. We have no greater example than Jesus Himself.

 

Philippians 2:5-8 admonishes, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and become obedient to death – even death on a cross.” 

 

His example applies to everyone, but especially for those in positions of leadership and great influence. As Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke12:48).

 

We often interpret this teaching in terms of wealth and material possessions, but it also concerns the abilities and opportunities the Lord gives and sets before us. Rather than utilizing them for our own advantage, the principle is we’re to use them to benefit others. We find the following exhortation for those in leadership:

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be…eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock…. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:2-6).

 

Is this easy? Or even natural? No. We’ve heard people say, ”If I don’t look out for myself, who will?” So, it requires a willingness and determination to follow through on what Jesus instructed: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). This is one reason Paul wrote, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). It’s an ongoing process, not a one-time event.

 

Much more than could be written about this; I wrestle with it more often than I’d like to admit. But one place to start is by heeding the challenge of Hebrews 12:2 – ”Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame….” Focusing on Him and not ourselves can be a beneficially humbling experience. 

Consulting the ‘Map’ for Avoiding Life’s Everyday Perils

Can you imagine being a soldier deployed in a war zone somewhere in the Middle East, Iraq or Afghanistan perhaps, and being sent out on a mission on foot or by transport vehicle? You know the intended route is littered with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), but you have no clue where they are. 

 

What might that be like? Sadly, many in our military have experienced that firsthand, suffering grave injuries or even losing their lives when one of those lethal devices detonated. If only they had been able to refer to a guide – a map of some kind – that could pinpoint the location of each IED or other enemy threats so they could steer clear of them. 

 

Pastor Tony Evans made reference to this on a recent radio broadcast, observing that in many ways our journey through life presents us with similar perils. They might not be physical explosions, but have the capacity to blow up our lives apart in other ways. We call them temptations. They present themselves to us without warning, threatening to set us off course or even stop us dead in our tracks. How can we avoid them?

Fortunately, we have a safety guide, a “map” called the Bible. At times life seems to throw us into harm’s way at every turn, imperiling our health, marriages, families, careers, finances, even our goals and aspirations. Throughout the Scriptures we find principles and truths to help us navigate around the potholes, dead ends and unwanted detours we encounter along the way.

 

We can find beneficial teachings throughout the Bible, but for many years the book of Proverbs has been one of my favorites to find practical, down-to-earth wisdom for virtually every aspect of life. I compiled an book, Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace, citing principles and practices Proverbs offers for folks who spend many hours each week in the marketplace. But Proverbs is just as relevant for teachers, homemakers, married couples, parents, pilots, mechanics, mentors and counselors.

 

Suppose you have a problem with anger, tempted to flare into a destructive rage with little provocation. We find words of caution such as these: “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult” (Proverbs 12:16) and, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control” (Proverbs 29:11). To show how common the issue of unrestrained anger is, we’re provided many other passages on this topic.

 

Maybe you’re a person who isn’t always careful about the things you say. Consider these: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). Or, “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Proverbs 26:20). And then there’s my personal favorite, one I’ve had to put into use many times, “When there are many words, transgression is not avoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).

 

Early in my adult life I thought credit cards were magical. I didn’t need money in my checking account; all I had to do was “charge it.” Only later did I learn the consequences of accumulated debt and compound interest. Thankfully I came across this admonition: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). I became much more judicious in the use of credit cards and readily available credit.

 

When it comes to decision-making, it’s easy to proceed without considering all perspectives. As they say, we want what we want when we want it. But there’s great wisdom in seeking the advice of people we trust: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22) and, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Proverbs 19:20).

 

Husbands may be tempted to take their wives for granted, but Proverbs reminds us they can be among God’s greatest blessings: “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord” (Proverbs 19:14). And most of Proverbs 31 is devoted to extolling the virtues of a godly wife, starting with, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies,” and concluding,“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised…” (Proverbs 31:30).

 

Integrity and honesty are all-or-nothing virtues. You can’t have a little bit of integrity, or be fairly honest. As Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity,” and “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare” (Proverbs 21:6).

 

We’ve probably all felt repulsed by people displaying excessive pride and ego. On the other hand, almost invariably we’re drawn to people who display a humble spirit. We see confirmation of this in the book of Proverbs: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2) and, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). We also find this principle: “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

 

There are many other topics we could look at, but even these listed are just the tip of the iceberg of the great wealth of wisdom we find in Proverbs, not to mention the other 65 books of the Bible. Spend a little time in the Scriptures, even use a handy reference to research topics of particular interest to yourself. You’ll find a true roadmap for everyday life, preparing you for the inevitable traps and hazards that pop up along the way.

 

As a passage from the New Testament declares, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Often that “way out” is recalling and implementing God’s promises in His Word.

Hearing Some ‘Nice’ News For a Change?

Remember the old saying, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all”? Well, these days there’s a parallel observation: If it weren’t for bad news, we wouldn’t have any news at all. But wait! There is some good news on the horizon – I think.

 

Recently I came across an informal, non-scientific survey that asked the question,“How nice of a person do you consider yourself to be?” An astounding 93% of the people that responded said they would describe themselves as “Very nice” (42%) or “Somewhat nice” (51%). Not one person said they would fit into the “Not at all nice” category. Gee, isn’t that…nice? Apparently Ebenezer Scrooge, Ivan the Terrible and Oscar the Grouch weren’t among those surveyed.

 

Isn’t it good to get some nice news? Or rather, nice to get some good news? Maybe. It depends on how you define “nice.” Does it mean someone who loves babies and puppies and kittens? One dictionary says it means “pleasant; agreeable; satisfactory.” If that’s the case, most of the 93% nice people must be staying off Facebook and Twitter, because many posts we see there, by that definition, aren’t exactly “nice.” Or pleasant, or agreeable.

 

To me, being nice doesn’t mean being a milquetoast individual with a perpetual smile and nary a harsh word escaping from his or her mouth. The best synonym for nice in my perspective is to be kind and considerate of others. Qualities we see all too rarely in our world, whether on social media, in news and talk show exchanges, or in angry protests.

 

Interestingly, we don’t find the word nice in the Bible. We’re not told as followers of Jesus to “go therefore and be nice.” However, it does speak much about kindness and compassion and love – the kind of love that puts others ahead of oneself. 

 

For instance, one of the qualities of knowing Christ is exhibiting what the Scriptures call “the fruit of the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Kindness, goodness and gentleness – those are three traits we would expect to find in a “nice” person.

 

Even more to the point is the admonition from Philippians 2:3-4, which says we are to, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” If you spent time with someone who acted in that way consistently, wouldn’t you consider them nice?

 

Many of us read that and think, “Yeah, that’s a nice ideal to strive for, but how do I succeed at doing it?” It gets back to what Jesus said when someone asked how to be assured of eternal life. Jesus responded by asking another question: “What is written in the Law?... How do you read it?” To which the inquirer replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’, and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus’ reply was simple: “You have answered correctly…. Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:25-28).

 

When we read this, we’re inclined to react, “Oh, that’s all? Well, no problem then!” Yeah, right! But in a nutshell, this sits at the center of living the so-called “Christian life,” as well as the secret to being a “nice person.” If we love God with everything we have, so that His character – His very life – can be manifested through us. Only then can we truly succeed at loving others as ourselves, as well as being able to put the interests of others on the same level as our own.

 

Everyone has a “god” of some sort. If it’s not the true God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, we’ll worship something else. And almost like a default setting on a computer, the god we’re most inclined to worship is ourselves.

 

When Jesus said, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), and the apostle Paul declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), they both were talking about the power to be, and to become – through Him – what we cannot apart from Him.

 

If we learn to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, we can demonstrate His love toward others. Will that make us “nice”? It depends on how we and others define the term, but we will be able to exhibit kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control. And that’s not bad!

Teachability: the Greatest Growth Ability

What do you think are the most important qualities for someone who desires to grow spiritually? We could list numerous possibilities. But from personal experience – in getting to know people who are living out their faith in incredible ways; striving to mentor and disciple other men, and seeking to grow in my own faith – I would rank teachability at or near the top.

Teachability isn't so much
about teaching as it is
about learning.

I’m not referring to the ability to teach, but rather the ability to be taught; willingness to learn from others. Because not everyone is teachable, and I must admit there have been times when I was among them. Often in the Scriptures we see the term “stiff-necked” to describe such people. 

For instance, in Exodus 34:9, Moses speaks to God about his frustration in leading a people determined to live contrary to what they had been instructed: "’Lord,’ he said, ‘if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.’" Basically, Moses – whom God had appointed to lead the Israelites – is saying, “There’s no teaching these folks!”

King Solomon addressed this a number of times in the book of Proverbs, including willingness to accept correction as a sign of teachability. He admonished, “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you” (Proverbs 9:8). Solomon also observed, “He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray” (Proverbs 10:17).

There are other important aspects to teachability beyond being willing to receive discipline and constructive criticism. One is determining to put to use what you’ve learned. The writer of Proverbs declared, "Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise" (Proverbs 15:31). Writing to his protégé, Timothy, the apostle Paul instructed, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

Being teachable means more than simple acquisition of information. Again writing to Timothy, Paul warned of what he termed “terrible times in the last days.” The apostle described people “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people…always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:5,7). Seems like this could apply today just as well as it did thousands of years ago. 

The teachable person is someone who doesn’t hoard what he or she has learned, but is eager to pass it along to others. Paul drew a verbal picture of multi-generational discipleship when he told Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). The teachable person is one who in turn resolves to teach others – paying it forward.

And how do we succeed in cultivating a teachable spirit? An indispensable element, I’ve discovered, is an old-fashioned virtue called humility – being humble enough to recognize that we don’t know it all, that we can learn from others, and our lives and the lives of others can be enhanced by what we learn.

Another apostle, James, addressed this when he equated teachability with wisdom: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).

What’s the moral of this “story”? First of all, we’re never too old to learn. You can teach “old dogs” new tricks, if they are willing to be taught. It can be humbling to have to admit we’ve been wrong about something, or didn’t know as much as we thought we did. But once we’ve learned something important, we also need to be willing to share it so others can benefit and hopefully, grow spiritually as well.

Being Tested By Good Times?

Striving for a proper balance at work - and life.

Going through difficult times, by definition, is never easy. I’ve often subscribed to the philosophy that I wouldn’t mind hard work – if it wasn’t so difficult. The same applies to life circumstances – many, often too-frequent, trying times that test our resolve, our willingness to persevere, even our faith.

But have you ever considered that sometimes the greatest tests we face in life come when things seem to be going very well?

I was attending a convention where one night the speaker talked about being tested in life. He gave some principles from the Bible and offered examples from his own life, a series of hardships he had endured both at work and in his personal life. Most could relate to what he was saying. 

However, as he spoke, a verse I had read just days before came to mind: “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives” (Proverbs 27:21). Tested by praise? Really? What does that mean? At the same convention, I had several opportunities to experience that principle firsthand.

At the time I was the editor of a CBMC magazine called CONTACT and had guided a major revamping of the publication, both in content and design. Before the changes, members who received it typically responded with a shrug. It was just another piece of mail, something they might scan, but only if time permitted. After the changes had been implemented, it became a welcomed, anticipated addition to their mailboxes, and I started to hear many favorable comments.

During the convention, several men I did not know stopped me (from recognizing my name badge, I suppose) to tell me how much they appreciated the magazine and the articles about people seeking to live out their faith in the workplace. Since writers don’t often receive positive comments on their work, my first reaction was to soak up the compliments. Then I remembered the verse about being tested by praise.

Instead, I chose to express my gratitude for the gracious words while mentally deflecting the “praise” to God, knowing that after all, it was He who had provided me with the abilities, experience and even the wisdom to make the positive changes that people were responding to. As Jesus told His followers, including me, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

This admonition isn’t limited just to writers and magazine editors, of course. When someone commends your efforts on a project at work, how do you respond – not just externally, but also inwardly? If you speak to a group, or lead a Sunday school class, and someone tells you what a good job you did, how do you feel? When a stranger compliments how well-behaved your child is, does your chest swell with pride – along with your head?

Just days ago I stopped by my highly accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon’s new office and noticed a sign posted behind the receptionist’s desk. It read, “WORK HARD and STAY HUMBLE.” Knowing my surgeon, that’s a motto he lives by. Maybe we should as well.

Being Put to the Test By Praise?

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m really being tested right now”? Maybe you’ve said that yourself a time or two. When we think of being tested, here are some things that come to mind: Financial difficulties. Health problems. Family and relationship conflict. Difficult, even insurmountable problems at work. A time when we have no choice but to exercise patience. Testing isn’t fun – at least not usually.

I was reminded of this during a recent quiet time when I read a curious statement about testing from the Bible. The passage, Proverbs 27:21, states, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives."

When we talk about being tested, it’s usually within a context of adversity or struggle. But have you ever been “tested” by praise? Can times when things are going great and seemingly can’t get any better become occasions for us to be tested?

Pat gently - don't
break your arm!

Actually, they can. How often have you heard of stellar athletes, famous entertainers, particularly young ones, or (dare we say it) politicians getting a “big head”? Sadly, far too often. Once-promising stars get caught up by the lavish praise they receive and end up short-circuiting their careers and falling to personal and professional ruin.

But we don’t have to be individuals whose names appear on celebrity TV or the gossip magazines to be tested by praise. At work our boss can praise us for work well done or high productivity, or we can be singled out for a prestigious award. It’s one thing to receive compliments graciously and feel the pride of accomplishment; it’s another to wallow in the praise and practically break our arms patting ourselves on the back.

In his acclaimed book, Good to Great, Jim Collins led a team of people that studied high-performing companies, seeking to identify their secrets. Initially they attempted to discount the impact of leadership, reasoning it’s too easy to give credit to leaders for an organization’s success. After a while, however, they realized the influence of leaders was an intrinsic factor.

Of particular interest was that many of the leaders of top companies shared two qualities: Unwavering determination and great humility. When commended for the performance of their organizations, the leaders typically adopted an “aw, shucks” attitude. More often than not, rather than absorbing the praise, they would respond something like, “Our people did all the work” or, “They could have gotten it done without me.”

There’s something endearing about people who demonstrate high character by remaining humble despite extraordinary success. Maybe we’ll never be CEO of a company that becomes an industry leader, but there’s still much for which we can receive praise. It might be a promotion at work, recognition for service in our community or at church, or even the achievements of our children. How do we react when showered with praise?

Another verse offers this advice: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2). In other words, when others speak well of us, it’s best not to say – or even think to ourselves – “You’re right about that!”

But there’s an even better way to “pass the test” when praise and compliments come our way. We can accept the kind words, since they are intended as a gift. At the same time we can remind ourselves of the apostle Paul’s words, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), while also acknowledging, “Apart from Me (Jesus Christ) you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Whatever Happened to Humility?

Jim Collins, in his classic business book, Good to Great, detailed a study he undertook to determine what differentiated great, exceptionally performing companies from merely good companies. Initially he instructed his researchers to exclude considerations of top leadership, reasoning it’s too easy to attribute corporate excellence to the CEOs.

As the study progressed, however, Collins and his team determined key leaders could not be ignored. Their contributions were indisputable. It was what the study discovered about the top executives of organizations that had transformed into “great companies” that proved most surprising.

Serving a god carved in our
own image can be daunting.

These CEOs were not ones that had labored to become celebrities, constantly making headlines or appearing on TV commercials promoting their companies and products – and themselves. Instead, great-company executives were characterized by “a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.”

Their self-effacing qualities were affirmed by people who knew them, according to Collins. “Those who worked with or wrote about the good-to-great leaders used words like quiet, humble, modest, reserved, shy, gracious, mild-mannered…,” he wrote.

Even though Good to Great was published in 2001, its findings seem extremely relevant for today as we scan the horizon of so-called “leaders.” Today, it’s the loud and proud, bold and brash, that capture media attention, whether they’re politicians, entertainers, athletes or business leaders. If the personal pronouns “I” and “me” were banished from our language, they might well find themselves tongue-tied.

Many men and women in the public eye seem quite fond of the refrain from the old country-western song, “Oh, Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way!” They’re like a dignitary greeting guests with a handshake and the words, “It’s a pleasure for you to meet me.”

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, since it was predicted this nearly 2,000 years ago. In 2 Timothy 3:2 it states, “in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers….” But this doesn’t mean we should shrug our collective shoulders and resign ourselves to such self-centeredness among those who hold places of prominence in society, resolved to set the pace for our culture.

The Bible proposes a distinctively different model. In fact, we’re told that determined efforts at self-promotion often backfire. “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor” (Proverbs 29:23).

Other passages in Proverbs offer a stark contrast:

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

“Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

We find no better example of humble, others-oriented leadership in the Scriptures than Jesus Christ. On numerous occasions, after performing a miracle of healing, “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it” (Mark 7:36). Another passage points to His selflessness: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

We can draw two conclusions from these and similar passages throughout the Bible. First, in choosing the types of leaders we should follow, whether at work, our communities, or in public office, we would be wise to select people in the good-to-great mold – those that exhibit fierce determination coupled with genuine personal humility.

Second, we would be well-advised to aspire to become people like that ourselves, in our homes, workplaces and everywhere in our unique spheres of influence. There is something attractive, even disarming, about someone not preoccupied with self. And since people like that seem in short supply, it’s a clear-cut way of standing out from the crowd.