Humilitas
On the looooong plane ride from Chicago to San Francisco (on my way to speak at the Evangelical Theological Society), I had more than enough time to read all of John Dickson’s new book Humilitas.
It’s a treatise on humility: a lost key to life, love, and leadership.
A Few Brief Snippets
• “The most influential and inspiring people are often marked by humility” (p. 19).
• “Humility does not mean humiliation. Nor does it mean being a doormat for others” (p. 22).
• “Humility is the noble choice to redirect your power in service of others” (p. 24).
• “Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself” (p. 24).
• “Humility is a willingness to hold power in the service of others” (p. 24).
• “Humility is more about how I treat others than how I think about myself” (p. 25).
The Bible and Humilitas
Dickson, wisely and accurately, links true humilitas to Jesus and Philippians 2:1-10.
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Power in the Service of Others
Like meekness, which is strength under control for the good of others, humility is power used in the service of others.
I pray that all of us, especially those who serve in Christian leadership roles, will become more like Christ in our service of others.
Join the Conversation
What is our “HQ?” Our Humilitas Quotient?
Bob…your post is so timely…..just this morning these verses were in my QT…
Ps 25:8-9….”Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way.”
Romans 15: 1-2….”We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good…to build him up.” v.5….”May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another…IN ACCORD WITH CHRIST JESUS….