Humility is a topic that both scares and entices me. It’s a weird pull and an internal struggle because I want it and I don’t. Maybe I’m not the only one who’s wondered, how can you be humble and also courageous? Aren’t the two concepts in opposition to each other? I want both.
When trying to understand humility as it pertains to Christian living, it’s tempting to think of someone who rarely speaks, who always offers kind smiles, and one who acquiesces to others without concern for what happens to them. But this definition of humility lacks depth.
There’s truth in it; I know people who amaze me with these attributes. But, there’s also a distorted way of viewing humility in this limited way. The same behaviors can be seen in someone who is humble and courageous as someone who is fearful and self-doubting.
My modus operandi used this understanding to fuel a martyr mindset with victim thinking. I devalued self and disbelieved what God says is good and true about me.
As far as I was concerned, if others were always better, I was never good.
This kind of logic shriveled my soul. Even so, to rise up and live victoriously felt like defiance and an act worth shunning. I felt trapped in giving up all sense of value in order to give others value.
The enemy knows how to twist good things into things that keep us from God’s goodness.
I didn’t know how to understand the verse in Philippians that talks about considering others as more than significant (or in other translations: more important, valued as more than, or better than).
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.~ Philippians 2:3
This passage still stops me, but I’ve learned to go deeper. In the last several years, God revealed faulty filters due to unhealthy belief systems. We all have them. They impact the way we understand things in scripture.
As it is with all of God’s Word, we need more than a few words taken out of context. We need a wider focus to understand the whole of God’s ways and truth.
For example, just in the verse that follows the well-known one quoted above, we read:
 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others ~ Philippians 2:4
There’s a presumptive understanding here. The Philippians already looked our for their own needs. They didn’t need a reminder to care about themselves, but to care more about other people.
I won’t go into further depth about this portion of scripture today, but I recommend reading and praying through it with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more of what He wants you to know about God and humility. There’s a lot to be gleaned throughout scripture and throughout Jesus’ example as He obeyed the Father.
What stands out to me after years of wrestling with the idea of humility and courage, is this. It takes a whole lot of God-fueled courage to value others as more than yourself without losing the truth of the value God assigns you.Â
What Courageous Humility Looks Like
This kind of courageous humility means being willing and able to acquiesce to another’s need, yet recognizing when acquiescing is neither loving nor courageous, and choosing what is.
Courageous humility means being willing and able to show kindness when another acts rudely. (Though never forced into smiling when anger and removing yourself from a situation is more appropriate. It doesn’t neglect setting healthy limits and boundaries.)
A humbly courageous person is not fearful of reprise or reproach because there is a level of soul rest that stands confidently on the truth of God. Of how He sees each person and what He values. The soul at rest knows the God who sustains it.
Courageous humility trusts in God’s leading over personal desires and retribution. When we live surrendered and our hearts are continuously turned towards Him, humility is a byproduct. We could choose to do things that appear humble, but true humility comes from a heart given over to God.
The courage to be humble comes from knowing who you are because of Christ and living from the source of all that is good because of God.
Humility is not the absence of courage. It requires the kind of courage that comes from knowing God and trusting Him.
How can we be humble and courageous?
I have a few additional ideas, some of which are in the article linked below, but I’d love to hear from you too. I still have a lot to learn.
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Thank you so much for addressing this topic! How did you know that I was struggling with this? lol Anyway, I’m glad that I’m not the only one that has to keep tending to the garden so that the weeds don’t overtake it and so that the little foxes don’t get in so that hopefully I can continue to be used by the Lord and continue what he’s called me to do.
I’m glad to hear from someone else who struggles with this. 🙂 Thank you for sharing, Lori. I pray this week we continue to rise up with bold faith and surrender in courageous humility.
I do not value others as more than myself. I find that that if I can value myself as as precious in God’s eyes than I am better able to value others as precious and valuable as well. I guess i have this perception because for so long I thought everyone else was so much better than me. That is a lie. I am deeply love, fully accepted, completely forgiven by Christ and he values all human beings so I do too.
My back goes up when I think I have to value others more than me. Coming from codependency i feel that is an unhealthy perception for me. I could be wrong and would love others feedback on this. Thank you.
his children.
Hi Terrie, I apologize for taking awhile to reply. I certainly understand where you are coming from. One of the main lies that crippled me for years was that others are more likely to be right. I get the challenge to view others as more valuable.
I think the idea in principle here is less about greater or less than in terms we would normally quantify. Such as two glasses of water with different amounts of liquid and one having more than the other.
My understanding today is that this verse talks more about living from a place of such deep dependence and trust in God, that our value is fully known and cherished and cannot be taken away. It is neither less nor more than others as God values each of us as His creation.
In this place, we can consider others higher than ourselves because it gives us a different way to view them. Not as technically more valuable, as if we were weighing a diamond of 5 karats next to one of 15. Rather, as higher than the value we would normally view them with.
We can think less of our own needs and desires when we rest in our needs being met in God. In this place of safety and love, we have more to give and we can give up our need to be valued by them and give consideration to them above ourselves.
It is a viewpoint that has compassion, without enabling. It remembers that each person has value given by God and it allows God to use us in the lives of others, with playing God.
I don’t know if this helps or makes it more confusing.
After growing in boundaries, and recovering from codependency, I think we can grow into a place of self-confidence and God-reliance that allows us to be used by God to love others without being used up and trying to play God in others lives.
Does any of this make sense? I am working on some course materials for codependency. The is a tough topic to write succinctly on. I would love prayer for it and I will pray for you also as you wrestle this idea with God. May HE be the one to guide your heart into His truth.