Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4 NKJV)

I’ve heard it said that humility is not thinking less of yourself – it’s thinking about yourself less. That’s a simple statement. But it’s profound.

Humility isn’t thinking thoughts like: I don’t matter. Everyone else is more important than me. So, what is humility? It’s focusing on God and others instead of being preoccupied with your own wants.

Let’s be real, it’s easy to think about yourself. You’re with yourself every moment of every day. During that time, you feel things: physically and emotionally. You get hungry and tired. You may be anxious or excited about something. When you feel those things, it’s easy to get caught up in them.

So, let’s take something simple – a trip to the grocery store – and see how it plays out. I won’t speak for you. But when I go, I’m usually in a rush. I have a list of items I want or need. While I’m there, I’m typically focused on my list. Besides ensuring I don’t run into someone, my attention isn’t on those around me. Afterward, I couldn’t tell you if those around me were happy or sad.

It’s easy to do that at church. When you pull into the parking lot, you may already have an agenda: I need to drop off the kids in the children’s ministry before the service starts. Then I want to grab a coffee in the café. And I need to save my seat. Maybe I’ll do that first. If you go with that mindset, you’re less likely to focus on other people.

Because it’s easy to get preoccupied with your own wants, humility often requires a conscious decision to redirect your thinking. Ask God to show you how He sees the people around you. Begin your day with the intention to serve others.

Jesus’ life modeled humility for us. The Bible tells us,

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV).

What a difference it would make if we started each day with the mind of Christ. Instead of honking at someone because they cut you off in traffic, maybe you’d wonder what kind of morning they were having and pray for them. And when you went to church, you’d be thinking about the people around you, asking God to show you how He wants you to serve them.

As my pastor has said, you are the church. The church is not a building. The church is comprised of the believers. Wherever you go, you are representing Jesus. So, be the church each day as you walk by faith with Him.

Photo by Yoksel 🌿 Zok on Unsplash