Humility: To Go Up is to Go Down

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less,” says C.S. Lewis, a British writer and author of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Also, humility is meekness and lowliness. It is more on an inner attitude than an outer one - a person may display an outward appearance of humility but can have an arrogant heart. In God, each one’s heart is evident, and He says, I oppose the proud, but I give grace to the humble. Such might shed some light on why people fell and disgraced due to having a haughty heart. Pride leads to destruction and arrogance to downfall.
 
The Scripture in Philippians chapter 2 encourages each one to have the same attitude of humility that Jesus Christ had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God the Father. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges and took the humble position of a servant. In His humanity, Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, the Father exalted Him to the place of highest honor, and at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue declares that He is Lord. Accordingly, the life of humility of Jesus resulted in triumph over the works of darkness and His exaltation. Jesus said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled before others, and he who habitually humbles himself will be exalted”. Indeed, to go up is to go down.
 
According to Forbes, the following are the habits of people exercising humility: they are situationally aware, they retain relationships, they make difficult decisions with ease, they put others first, they listen, they speak their minds, they take time to say "thank you", they accept feedback, they assume responsibility, and they ask for help. These habits might be a good start for us to practice daily some sort of humility before our colleagues, families, and friends as we ask God in prayer to help us have the attitude of humility Jesus had.
 
 Furthermore, difficult situations, problems, and life crises might be ways humility is taught and obtained. Wherein we are compelled to humble ourselves before God to seek His favor, blessing, and protection. Besides, perils in life make us realized head-on that we need other people’s help and we cannot live on our own. In implication, let us constantly humble ourselves before God by trusting him and be humble before others by not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. It is in humility or going down that God lifts us up. (CRFV, LCM)