How would you describe perfect weather? It’s probably not just one thing, is it? Perfect weather has to be just the right temperature. It’s not too hot, not too cold. You may love snow or hate it, but there’s pretty widespread agreement about rain. A rainy day is not perfect weather. Perfect weather can be hard to pin down, but you know it when you see it. You walk out your front door, take a breath of fresh air, and think to yourself, “This is a perfect day.”
Humility is kind of like that. It’s harder to pin down than just pointing to one thing. Humility can look different in different people and in different situations. Even still, like perfect weather, there are a few common traits of a humble person that help us know what to look for. Because humility is a mark of the wise life, the Book of Proverbs has a lot to say about it. Here are three common signs of humility:
1. Humility Hears Advice (Prov. 12:15; 13:13; 18:12) – A prideful person knows all the answers – at least they think they do. They think to themselves, “What could you possibly tell me that I don’t already know?” or “What idea could you have that’s better than mine?” A humble person, on the other hand, knows they have limits and weaknesses. This makes them open to the counsel of others. They want to hear what other people have to say. They want the Word of God to instruct them and correct them. Instead of assuming they’re on the right track, a humble person is always open to advice that could get them moving in the right direction.
2. Humility Avoids the Praise of Others (Prov. 25:27; 27:2) – A humble person knows that the praise of others is cheap. In fact, it can even prove to be dangerous if it deludes us or inflates our ego. People-pleasing makes for a terrible North Star. This doesn’t mean a humble person can’t receive praise. There’s an arrogant way to deflect praise that only appears humble so people will praise our humility. When a truly humble person is praised, they can receive it without developing a God-complex because they know that everything good in us comes from God himself. If someone praises us for good character or performance, a humble person praises God for his faithfulness instead of letting it go to their head.
3. Humility Leads to Honor (Prov. 15:33; 25:6-7; 29:23) – In God’s economy, the way up is down. It’s when we think of others as more significant than ourselves that we find our true significance. Indeed, this is the model of Jesus. As the hymn sings, Jesus was rich beyond all splendor but for love’s sake become poor. Jesus humbled himself even to death on a cross, but his story didn’t end there. He rose again to everlasting glory and achieved the honor of honors (Phil. 2:5-11). Wisdom knows better than to jockey for position and status in this life. Instead, wisdom longs to hear our God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
It’s always hard to answer the question, “Do you think you’re humble?” If you say yes, does that mean you’re arrogant? If you say no, are you trying too hard to look humble? It’s a hard question to answer - which is why it’s so helpful to have others help us answer it. Consider asking your spouse or a close friend this week. Ask them something like, “How well do you think I take advice?” It could be the start of a valuable conversation. Who knows what you could find?