1 Peter 5

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus was the epitome of what it means to be a humble servant.  He did exactly what His Father asked Him to do, even though obeying meant inconceivable suffering and humiliation.  Humility and accepting God’s will, even when it conflicts with our own, are crucial steps in the life of a Christian.  “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the Name above all other names” (Philippians 2:5-9, NLT).  Although being humble is often thought of as a weakness, the Bible tells us that this is absolutely untrue.  Humility places us in a position to receive God’s grace and become everything that He has called us to be.  “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).  There is no room for pride, arrogance or comparing ourselves with others in the hearts of humble people.  Here is a great and useful list from Joyce Meyer Ministries that outlines some character traits of a humble person:

1. The humble can always ask for help, and they don’t insist on everything being done their way.

2. They are quick to forgive others, difficult to offend, and content to wait on God for vindication when they have been wronged.

3. They are patient and don’t get frustrated with the weaknesses of others.

4. The humble person is a peacemaker. In fact, we need humility to maintain peace in our lives. 

5. A humble person knows when to be quiet. It’s certainly not wrong to talk, but a humble person is comfortable allowing others to have center stage and doesn’t feel the need to speak their mind in every situation.

6. A humble person sees their own weaknesses and can readily admit them. When we open up to others about ourselves, it can actually encourage and help them realize they’re not the only ones who deal with problems.

7. A humble person happily serves other people, and they don’t do it to impress others. They do it unto God, knowing their reward will come from God.

8. A humble person is very thankful. This is one reason they’re usually so happy. When we live with an attitude of gratitude, it releases joy and power into our lives.

9. A humble person has a tender conscience and is quick to repent.

10. A leader who is truly humble treats everyone with respect. Watching how a leader treats people is the quickest way to find out their level of humility.

When we are humble, we are truly happy because we find joy in our lives and our God-given gifts, no matter what the world thinks.  We are important because God loves and values us.  Our worth comes from Him.  Period.  Truly believing this allows us to accept our purpose in life and live with joy and contentment.  In reality, God cares more about how we use our gifts than He does about what gifts we actually have. 

Being thankful for our gifts, and then using them to find ways to tell others about Jesus and bring glory to God, brings us closer to being the humble servants God created us to be.