Re-Imagining Humility – Best Read Prayerfully

This post begins with a distinction between insecurity and humility because these two qualities often get mistaken for each other. Insecurity is a lack of confidence in one’s abilities. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking about yourself less (thanks Clive).

Insecurity is a lack of confidence in one's abilities. Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's thinking about yourself less - thanks Clive. Share on X

Insecure people carry a lot of uncertainty even anxiety in their heart. By contrast, humble people are often confident and sure of themselves but their humility gives birth to other qualities like being teachable, gracious and eager to serve others.

Having lots of humility is never a problem in leaders but lots of insecurity is always a problem. If left unchecked, insecurity can become a lid to your leadership.

Insecure leaders often perform their work through the social mirror, fixing their self-worth to the positive praises and constructive criticisms of other people. This inevitably becomes an unhealthy emotional roller coaster.

Insecure leaders perform their work through the social mirror, fixing their self-worth to the positive praises and constructive criticisms of other people, an unhealthy emotional roller coaster. Share on X

Grounded and secure leaders might care what others think of them but final say on their dignity and worth comes from God alone.

Confident, grounded and secure leaders might care what others think of them but final say on their dignity and worth comes from God alone. Share on X

Secure leaders consistently demonstrate meekness. Jesus operated with a meek and humble heart. Meekness doesn’t mean weakness, it means strength under control.

Meekness doesn’t mean weakness, it means strength under control. Jesus operated in perfect meekness. Share on X

Recall the scene when Jesus raised a little girl from the dead in Mark 5:35-43. I inserted it below to make it easy.

³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” ³⁶ Overhearing^[a^] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” ³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. ⁴³ He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

If Jesus were looking for an audience, he had one. The entire family and many more  were gathered. In those days wealthy families hired additional mourners to attend funeral events, giving the impression the loss had bigger impact.

These hired mourners were the ones that ‘laughed at Jesus’ when he suggested the little girl was only sleeping and not dead. The crowd was on Jairus’ payroll; Jesus could have used them for his own purposes either to congratulate Him for the miracle performed or to spread the word to enhance His fame. Neither motivated Him.

The first thing Jesus did was put everyone out of the room. He took the child’s mother and father into the bedroom where he performed the miracle. Jesus was not looking to be noticed. He wasn’t seeking the congratulations of a crowd or the praises of people.

Jesus was never looking to be noticed. He wasn’t seeking congratulations from the crowd or the praises of people. He came to earth as a servant, meek and humble of heart. Share on X

Jesus’ humility kept Him completely focused on the needs of a mom and dad grieving the loss of their daughter. Dismissing the crowd and the public spectacle, He reserved the fullness of His presence for those in need. Something every leader needs to do regularly. Leader Heart Check: if you ever get invited into the depths of suffering of another person and say to yourself, “I don’t have time for this” you might want to ask yourself why you are leading at all.

Standing by the little bed, Jesus took one of the girl’s cold hands in His and tenderly said in her own Aramaic tongue, “Little girl, arise.” Jesus was quick and to the point.

An insecure leader would have created a lengthy, drawn out show that would have kept the focus on him. An insecure leader would have turned up the volume of his voice to demonstrate his power and authority, even if his heart trembled. Jesus was quiet, barely whispering, but utterly confident and infinitely secure in the Father. Real authority doesn’t need to yell to establish itself.

Insecure leaders turn up the volume of their voice to demonstrate power and authority. But real authority doesn’t need to yell to establish anything. Share on X

Quickened by His word and touch, the dead girl revived, gazed on her Savior, and got out of bed. Jesus commanded that the astonished parents should refrain from publicizing the miracle – another expression of His meek and humble heart. It was also intended to guard them against the temptation to speak unnecessarily about the miraculous event, and thereby lose the full benefit of the blessing they had received. He was inviting them to humility and meekness too.

When Jesus requested that food be given to the resurrected girl, He revealed how practical He was, and how He fully recognized and honoured natural law. In a concrete manner, He subjected His miracle to something less miraculous – food. Jesus was deflecting attention on His supernatural power to the biological need for food. “I have no food for her, but you do. Feed her.” He who created natural law and could live outside of it, subjected Himself to it. Humility again. Leaders should never live above the law.

What does all this have to do with leadership? Here are three principles we can learn and apply to our own leadership:

1. Meekness matters. Meekness doesn’t mean weakness, it means strength under control. Jesus was always in control of the situation, even when the crowds were laughing at him. Insecure leaders need others to acknowledge their authority. Jesus did not. Make it your goal to demonstrate your authority through quiet, impactful leadership.
2. Humility helps. Jesus models for us what it means to be entirely focused on the needs of others, not personal benefit from emerging situations. Insecure leaders leverage circumstances for their benefit, usually to highlight something of themselves – their skill, gifting, and power. Jesus led for the sake of others – the young girl and her family. Use your authority every day to meet the needs of those around you.
3. Submit to authority. Authentic leadership means living under authority and natural law. Deflecting the attention from his miracle to the simple need for food shows that Jesus led under authority. Insecure leaders attempt to demonstrate their leadership by operating outside policy, protocol, and law. Jesus was secure enough in His leadership to live under authority.

Jesus’ example of leadership is the most inspiring and informative source from which we can ever learn. The more time you spend reflecting on His life and leadership by prayerfully reading the Gospels, the better you will become at leading others. The surest way to find security as a leader is in relational intimacy with Jesus.