CHAPTER 7
HUMILITY
All who are promoted to leadership are entrusted with a work of importance. The higher the promotion, the more important the work, and the more important the work the more important the person is seen to be by people, and the more people look to you for help and guidance, the more power one gets, the greater one’s self esteem becomes. It has been said that power is the greatest aphrodisiac but when that aphrodisiac works on oneself then pride and arrogance can become a problem. It is good to remember:
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Prov.16:18)
This is something that can be seen happen in the life of King Uzziah of Judah. Ascending the throne at the young age of sixteen he reigned for 52 years and ‘did what was right in the sight of the Lord!’
And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.(2Chron.26:5-11)
Uzziah prospered and grew in stature and power and he tasted success after success while he had God before him, while he looked elsewhere for guidance. But as he grew older and his power and strength attracted attention and accolades, so did his ego:
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.
Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.
And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.
And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.(2Chron.26:16-21)
Uzziah had become self-righteous and he considered himself more worthy than the priests that served before the Lord. His arrogance was to be his downfall.
Saul made the same mistake, his arrogance and pride got the better of him and instead of waiting for the man appointed by God to consecrate the offering, he took it upon himself to approach the Lord, something he was not ordained to do. His pride and corruption of heart were to cost him his kingship. (1Sam.13:9-15)
In contrast we read the account of the centurion in Matt 8: 5-10:
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.(Mat.8:5-10)
Remember, this was a Roman commander, one of thousands who occupied Israel. Their word was law, their word was order, their word contained life or death for anyone who opposed them, but this centurion – leader of one hundred - approached Jesus without arrogance or pride, he was humble and honest in his heart. Most in his position would have been presumptuous or overbearing, or even commanding and demanding, but this centurion of the hated Roman army received a surprising reference to his character:
And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this. (Luke.7:3-4)
Jews pleading for a Roman! A Roman soldier being helped by a Jew, such are the rewards of humility.
John the Baptist had a great following. People from all over Judea, from all walks of life went out into the wilderness to listen to him and to be baptized by him, he even had the ear of Herod the king, and yet with all this attention and praise he remained humbly committed to his calling as the preparer of the way of the Lord:
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. (John.1:27)
True greatness is found in humility. True leaders do not have to ‘lord’ it over others. Their calling requires exactly the opposite:
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.(Mat.9:35)
This verse sums up what leadership is all about – to be a leader is to serve. It is great to be called king or president or minister or director or CEO or sir or madam or boss, and yes, we should all be striving for advancement, but advancement entails doing more than the norm for country, or company, or church, or team or school, to maintain a serving attitude, to be seeking the best for the team, not for oneself. There are those who are self-serving, who seek advancement at all cost, who clamour and climb over others to be in front, their self-importance and ambition destroys all thought of helping others, they are people who can ‘kill with a look’, who can destroy with a word, who want and maintain power for prestige and status. Jesus warned in a wonderful teaching in Luke 14:
When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
(Luke.14:8-11)
Honour comes from others, others place you where you should be, and by doing that they accept and acknowledge you as leader. For the most part, those who exalt themselves usually find themselves high up without a pedestal to hold them. Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace gave a wonderful display of humility and servitude shortly before His crucifixion:
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
(John 13:4-16)
It is good to remember that amongst those whose feet He washed were Judas Iscariot who was soon to betray Him, Peter who would deny Him and Thomas who would doubt Him. All these things He knew yet He still gave of Himself, humbled Himself in the face of humanity.