Humility

The term humility is rooted in the Latin word humilitas, a noun that means “humble,” “grounded” or “rooted in the earth,” and “low.”  The word also shares the root form humus, which means “earth” or “soil” or “dust.”  Let me illustrate this with an image of a vast

expanse or a meadow full of flowers.  We know that if there was no soil, there would be no plants or flowers.  If there were flowers without soil beneath them, that would constitute counterfeit or mere imitation or fabrication.  Thus, as humus is out of sight yet supporting and supplying life to visible flowers, humility is the virtue or inner quality that supports and sustains the external self.    

It is also useful to define humility by considering what it is not.  The very opposite of humility is arrogance, a word that refers to pridefully making undue claims of power, rank, or importance to elevate the self in comparison to others.  The word arrogance is closely related to hubris, a Greek word that means “extreme haughtiness,” or unrealistic overestimation of one’s competence or capabilities.  Hubris in the original Greek context meant to mistreat others to make one’s self feel greater or superior, especially as in the actions of the powerful against the weak and poor.   Examples of Hubris in Greek Tragedies and Myths In a well-known Greek tragedy, Oedipus unknowingly kills his own father King Laius in a rather silly and prideful dispute over the right of way.  Their argument, in essence, represents a cultural and traditional misinterpretation of power: the weak must bow to the strong, the lesser must yield to the greater. The lesson from Oedipus is pretty clear: pride kills and destroys.       Phaeton, in one of the minor Greek myths, flies his father Helio’s sun chariot too close to the earth although he clearly lacked the ability to control the mighty chariot.  Did he commit this error unknowingly?  No.  He was warned by his father to stay away from the earth.  Then, why did Phaeton insist on flying the mighty chariot so close to the earth?  Because he wanted to prove to his friends and mockers that he was indeed the son of Helio.  But, Phaeton’s hubris placed the Earth in danger of complete destruction, burning all living things in its path.  So, Zeus threw a thunderbolt and.... killed him.  The lesson, I think, is pretty clear in Phaeton’s case as well--pride kills and destroys.       As for Icarus, his father Daedalus crafted a pair of wings made of wax and feathers in order for them to escape from King Minos.  However, despite his father’s stern warnings, Icarus flew too close to the sun in his delight of flight and juvenile giddiness.  That caused his wings to melt, and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.  Need I say again that pride kills and destroys?       So, hubris in Greek tragedies ultimately results in failure or doom. I think some young people would exclaim "Epic Fail!"   What does the Bible say about arrogance? First of all, God hates pride and opposes those who are arrogant (Prov. 8:13; James 4:6). Second, pride will ultimately result in disgrace, humiliation, destruction, and failure (Prov. 11:2, 16:8). Third, those who are haughty look down on others and reject reproof and correction (Prov. 15:12). In other words, they refuse to learn from those who care enough to point out flaws or areas of improvement.   In our day-to-day living, we must remain humble and learn by acknowledging that (1) what we know is inadequate, (2) we cannot learn if we lack the desire or will to learn, and (3) and arrogance gets in the way of learning and growing. Galileo Galilei said, “I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him.”  Everyone has something to offer. If you are humble, you can learn something from anyone, anywhere, at any time.

God desires to bless and use those who are humble. Why? Because humble people give all the credit and glory to God. They also consider others better than themselves and, thus, gladly and willingly serve others as God's hands and feet. Further, humble people acknowledge their limitations and seek ways to grow and develop.  

God delights in those who are open to learning from Him. Are you "open" to His teachings, precepts, direction, and guidance? Do you humble yourself before the Great Teacher? Or are you "closed-minded" in the sense that you refuse to learn and reject His correction? Do you shut Him out from your life?

I hope you'll always remain humble, teachable, and available. Be open to different ideas, new conditions, and unfamiliar teachings that are beyond your present understanding or realization. Acknowledge that what you know is not necessarily sufficient nor foolproof. Open your eyes, ears, and heart to learn from others who are more experienced and knowledgeable. But most importantly, humbles yourself in the sight of the Lord. Let Him lift you up, not your pride and ego.