The One Indispensable Quality for Christian Leaders
I'm always a little uneasy when, after speaking or serving in a church, someone heaps on me excessive praise. I do appreciate their sentiment. I nearly always express thanks. But I know myself too well to take their comments to heart. I also know, like Jesus, what's in the hearts of men and women (John 2:24-25).
That's why I believe that the one indispensable quality for Christian leadership, both men and women, is humility.
Humility is that quality of spirit that defers to others, refuses to think more highly (and too lowly) of oneself. It is the attitude of Jesus when he went to the cross (Phil.2:5-8). One dictionary describes humility as "the having a humble opinion of oneself; a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness; modesty, humility, lowliness of mind".
Humility does not mean we are floor mats for Jesus. A humble person has strong convictions. They can have a strong personality. But a humble person also defers to others, understanding that they may have better ideas and a different perspective we may have missed.
Our English word humility comes from the Latin 'humus' meaning soil or ground. In soil science, humus is the dark topsoil formed by the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms. It's rich in nutrients and retains water. It's valuable for growing things. I hope the connection between the material and spiritual is obvious. We need to be broken down before we become valuable and useful.
Humility is not valued in today's culture, even in today's Christian culture. We understand why a Tom Brady, NFL Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, promotes his brand. But I expect better behavior from those who profess Jesus as Lord.
Professing Christians who use various outlets for shameless self-promotion are the antithesis of humility. When someone intimates that they have a corner on the truth or possess a secret method for church growth or victory over sin or whatever, that's not humility. And don't get me started on the cult of personality that exists in the evangelical church!
Proverbs 27:2 says, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." (ESV)
We've forgotten Peter's instruction to church elders in 1 Peter 5. They exhibit humility to their congregations by exercising shepherding care and wise oversight. They are to do this eagerly, not for personal gain or manipulative control. How foreign this is to some who call themselves Christian leaders!
The elders' example should prompt us to "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" (1 Peter 5:5 NIV). The word clothe (or gird in some translations) talks about a garment slaves wore to set them apart from others. One Greek lexicon says this about the noun: "(it) was the white scarf or apron of slaves, which was fastened to the girdle of the vest, and distinguished slaves from freemen."
Immediately, Jesus' example of washing the disciples' feet in John 13:4-17 comes to mind. What distinguished Jesus was his humility. He wasn't ashamed to be a servant. And neither should we.
Both James (4:6) and Peter (5:5b) borrow from Proverbs 3:34: "He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed" (NIV). Believe me, I've been humbled as a Christian leader! But I've also been shown grace after being humbled to keep on leading.
Two of my favorite passages on pride and humility come from Isaiah chapters 57 and 66 respectively:
"For this is what the high and exalted One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
'I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" (Isaiah 57:15 NIV)"This is what the Lord says:
'Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
Where will my resting place be?
Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.“These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.'" (Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV)
Humility is seeing ourselves in right perspective before God. Rick Warren said this in his book, The Purpose Driven Life: "Humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less."
Humility should mark everyone who calls Jesus Lord. And especially those in Christian leadership.