Humility in the Bible

By Kim Ae-ran

Many prophets appeal to us to seek the Lord. Especially in this time of trials, what does it mean to seek the Lord? Prophet Zephaniah says: “Seek the Lord, all you humble… Seek justice, seek humility.” (Zephaniah 2:3).

What does it mean to seek the Lord, in our life?

Above all, it means to love the Lord and our neighbors. It is to love God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength. At the same time, it is to love others, with the help of God's love. In other words, it means to do good in every situation; to be righteous and just, to be humble; to help and share with others willingly, and to be merciful and kind to all.

Second, seeking the Lord means giving thanks constantly. The first letter of Thessalonians (5:15-18) says: “See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Constant joy, endless prayer, and a thankful heart are the will of God, the standard and measure of the Christian life.

Among 10 lepers healed by the grace of God, only one Samaritan came back to give thanks to Jesus. Being grateful allows us to be truly healed and to do our best in every moment. A thankful heart is a stepping stone that leads me to walk on and on, faithfully. It allows me the fullest living, inspires me to see reality in a positive way, and helps me to be enthusiastic and hopeful. It gives me creativity and inspiration and opens my heart wide.

Reading the Bible, I discovered that Jesus is the supreme example of humility. He defines himself thus: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves” (Matthew 11:29-30).

Jesus even “poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist” (John 13:5).

In Philippians 2:7, Saint Paul witnesses the humility of Jesus: “Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”

In this way, the humility revealed and witnessed through the life of Jesus has become the will of God, the mission, lifestyle, and code of conduct of all of us who follow the footsteps of Jesus.

Besides Jesus, Abraham, Abel, Moses, Solomon, Daniel, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Saint Paul the apostle, Peter, and many others are good examples of humility.

The Beatitudes and love are signs of humility. Thus, we can substitute humility in the first letter of Corinthians 13:4-7 for love: “Love (Humility) is patient, humility is kind. Love (Humility) is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love (Humility) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. When available, please feel free to visit her blog, "A piece of sunshine," at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.