He Gave Up Pride

Years after Jesus left the earth the one thing that was most often said about him was that he was humble. He thought of others first, before himself—which is funny, since the other thing said about him is that he was the greatest man to ever live.

Someone who knew him well wrote, “have an attitude like Jesus had . . .” Be humble, they said. You before me. But when the ancient audience heard that, they probably winced. In that day, humility was shameful. Then, it was all about making everyone notice you were a flawless person, and should go immediately to the front of the line. Sound familiar?

But follow Jesus around in the Bible and you can watch how much he focused on others. He always prioritized serving and loving people. It’s a beautiful thing to observe. He gave up status, his pride, even his life—and traded them for people like us. In his teaching and his stories and his life we repeatedly see the humble attitude that drew people to him then and still today.

Jesus traded his status to help people.

Although he was the respected leader, Jesus got dirt under his fingernails to help people. He made himself small to get the job done.

He could hold the attention of thousands when he taught, yet he sat with people whom others ignored. He listened to them like they were the most important ones in the room.

He didn’t mind people’s crazy questions or awkward family. He had them, too.

Jesus taught about beautiful things like no one else ever had; He redefined reality.

Jesus traded his pride for humility.

He washed his students’ feet when they were filthy, something always done by a servant.

He was baptized by his cousin John in the Jordan River.

He sat and ate comfortably with those whom others rejected, and he never gave them the impression he considered himself above them.

He told stories about the most everyday things, that everyone could relate to—about fairness on the job, about making ends meet, about looking for something lost—even about a son who left home in a huff.

Jesus gave up sitting at the head table to eat and laugh with his friends and family in the kitchen. When others thought they were beneath them, he made them feel like family.

Maybe that’s why we’re still drawn to his example. Things haven’t changed all that much.

Consider this: Do you let pride get in the way of relationships? What is the relationship between being humble and being a servant to others?