True Discipleship
Humility isn't just a nice quality to have - it's the very foundation that makes real discipleship possible. Without humility, everything else in your spiritual life becomes fake, twisted, or self-serving. Here are the key ways humility shapes true followers of Jesus:
1. Admitting You Don't Know Everything
Scripture: Proverbs 3:7 - "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil."
Real discipleship starts when you admit you don't have all the answers. Pride makes you think you've got life figured out, that you know better than God, or that you can handle things on your own. Humble disciples know they need God's wisdom for everything - from big life decisions to daily choices. It's like finally admitting you need directions when you're lost, instead of driving around in circles pretending you know where you're going. The smartest thing you can do is admit you don't know much of anything compared to God.
2. Taking the Lowest Position
Scripture: Luke 14:10 - "But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests."
Jesus taught that His followers should always choose the lowest spot, not the highest. This means volunteering for the jobs nobody wants, helping people who can't pay you back, and serving without expecting credit. It means choosing to be overlooked rather than fighting for attention. When everyone else is climbing the ladder to get ahead, humble disciples climb down to serve others. This goes against everything our culture teaches us, but it's exactly what Jesus did.
3. Learning from Everyone and Everything
Scripture: Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Pride makes you think you're too good to learn from certain people - maybe they're younger, or less educated, or different from you. Humility knows that God can teach you through anyone - a child, your enemy, someone you disagree with, or someone who has less than you. Humble disciples listen more than they talk. They ask questions instead of always giving answers. They're more interested in growing than in being right. It's like being a student who knows they can learn something from every teacher, even the ones they don't particularly like.
4. Admitting When You're Wrong
Scripture: 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Nothing destroys relationships and spiritual growth like refusing to admit you messed up. Humble disciples say "I was wrong" and mean it. They don't make excuses or blame others. When they hurt someone, they apologize and actually change their behavior. When they sin, they confess it quickly instead of hiding it or pretending it didn't happen. Pride makes you defend yourself even when you're clearly wrong. Humility makes you own your mistakes and learn from them.
5. Serving Others Without Expecting Anything Back
Scripture: John 13:14-15 - "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."
Jesus, who was God in human form, got down on His knees and washed His disciples' dirty feet - a job usually done by the lowest servants. He did this to show His followers that real greatness means serving others, especially when they can't do anything for you in return. Humble disciples look for ways to help people who will never be able to help them back. They serve behind the scenes without needing credit. They do the dirty work that nobody else wants to do, just like Jesus did.
6. Accepting Correction and Discipline
Scripture: Proverbs 12:1 - "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid."
Nobody likes being corrected, but humble disciples actually welcome it because they know it helps them grow. When someone points out their faults or when life teaches them hard lessons, they don't get defensive or angry. They listen and try to learn. Pride makes you hate criticism and fight against anyone who tries to correct you. Humility makes you grateful for people who care enough to tell you the truth, even when it hurts. It's like having a coach who pushes you to get better - you might not like it in the moment, but you're thankful later.
7. Putting Others First
Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4 - "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."
This doesn't mean thinking you're worthless. It means caring more about what others need than what you want. Humble disciples let others go first, give up their preferences, and make sacrifices for other people's good. When there's only one piece of cake left, they give it to someone else. When there's a good parking spot, they let another car have it. When there's a promotion available, they're happy when their coworker gets it instead. This kind of thinking is completely opposite to how the world works, but it's how Jesus lived.
8. Recognizing Your Complete Dependence on God
Scripture: John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
The deepest level of humility is knowing that without God, you can't do anything that really matters. Every breath you take, every good thing you accomplish, every day you wake up - it all comes from God. Humble disciples don't take credit for their successes because they know God made it all possible. They pray about everything because they know they need God's help for everything. Pride makes you think you're self-made and independent. Humility makes you realize you're completely dependent on God for everything good in your life.
Why Humility Matters So Much
Without humility, everything else in discipleship becomes poisoned by pride. You might do good deeds, but you do them to make yourself look good. You might know a lot about the Bible, but you use that knowledge to feel superior to others. You might go to church and pray, but it's really just about making yourself feel spiritual.
Humility is what makes the difference between real discipleship and religious show-off. It's what allows God to actually work through you instead of you just working for God to make yourself feel important. When you're truly humble, God can use you in ways that amaze even you - because you're not getting in the way anymore.
The most powerful thing about humility is that it's exactly how Jesus lived. He was God, but He served others. He had all power, but He chose to be weak. He deserved all honor, but He took the lowest place. If the Son of God lived this way, how can His followers live any differently?
True discipleship isn't about becoming a spiritual superstar. It's about becoming more and more like Jesus - and Jesus was humble. That's where real spiritual power comes from.
© 2025 James Dacey Jr.
