Humility 谦卑
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Author: Pastor Andrew Xu
Humility is a life expression that all Christians should embody. But the definition of humility that we know, and the humility described in the bible is quite different. We often would think that humility is self-deprecating or exalting others. But what does the bible say about humility? “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit”. Selfishness we understand, but vain conceit? Vain conceit is really pride. Then, humility is not about a low self esteem or a kind of envy that others are better than us and therefore we think we are no good. In fact, self-deprecation and low self esteem can be the outward expression of pride rather than humility.
The biblical humility is an expression of selflessness that comes from within and not circumstances without. It is not caused by the outward inability of ourselves or the outward ability of others. But because we received from God the selfless giving out of love and therefore, we are willing to imitate Christ’s example and give selflessly to the people around us. Verse 4 further explains verse 3. “not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” A life of humility is one that is others first. Three signs can be seen in the lives of a person who is humble: Selflessness, Service and Sacrifice.
These 3 signs can be found in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is our example for humility, and we should imitate Him. Jesus is God but He made Himself nothing, incarnate as man. Because of love, God who deserves all glory is willing to become man. This is the greatest selflessness. Not only did Jesus incarnate, but He spent His earthly days serving others, even washing the feet of His disciples. This is the greatest service. Lastly, Jesus was obedient even to death on the cross on Golgotha and paid the ransom for sin with life. This is the greatest sacrifice.
Dear brothers and sisters of ECF, let us learn from our Lord Jesus’ example and be a disciple of humility. A disciple who puts others first. May we be willing to live a life of selfless service, willing to pay the price to sacrifice for others.
“不要自私自利，也不要贪图虚荣，只要谦卑，看别人比自己强；各人不要单顾自己的事，也要顾别人的事。”
文:许燕杰传道
“谦卑”是每一个基督徒当有的生命表现。但我们所认识的谦卑与圣经中谦卑的定义有很大的差别。常常我们认为谦卑乃是自我贬低，并高抬他人。但圣经的教导却是：“不要自私自利，也不要贪图虚荣，只要谦卑，看别人比自己强”。我们都知道“自私”是什么，那“贪图虚荣”又是什么？它其实就是高傲。“谦卑”不是自我贬低或看不起自己，也不是因着羡慕他人的成就以至自己变得“自卑”。反而，自我贬低或自卑可以是一种不谦卑的表现。
圣经的谦卑是一种的无私的表达，是发自内心，而不是受到外在环境所影响。它不是因为自己外在的成就不佳或他人的成就优越所导致，乃是因为我们从上帝那里领受了无私与付出的爱，因此我们也愿意效法基督耶稣，以无私付出给予我们周围的人。第四节更是解释了第三节，“各人不要单顾自己的事，也要顾别人的事。”一个谦卑的生命是一个以他人为先的生命。这样的生命有三个标志，就是无私、付出和牺牲。
这三个的标志都在耶稣的生命里表现出来。耶稣是我们谦卑的榜样，而我们应当效法祂。耶稣放下祂本是神的身份成了肉身。因为爱，最尊贵的神竟然愿意成为人的样式，这是最大的无私。祂不单成为人，更是在祂在世的日子中服侍众人，甚至愿意为祂的门徒洗脚，这是最大的付出。最后，耶稣因着顺服，付上自己的生命，死在各各他山上。这是最大的牺牲。
亲爱的中国布道会弟兄姐妹，让我们学习主耶稣的样式，成为一个谦卑的门徒，也就是一个以他人为先的门徒。但愿我们都能活出一个无私、与为他人付出的生命。