For Humility & Against Pride
For and Against: For Humility, Against Pride
Hey Ya’ll!
If you’re new here (and many of you might be since this blog is launching alongside my fancy new email list—woohoo!), let me catch you up:
Our world seems to be filled with conflicting shouts about what we should be for and what we should be against, and now more than ever, it’s vital that we understand what Jesus was for and against and what that looks like in our lives.
If you want to dig deeper you can go check out these topics on my blog:
For Love & Against Hypocrisy
For Compassion & Against Judgmentalism
For Truth & Against Deception
For Justice & Against Injustice
So now that we’re all caught up! Let’s jump into Humility and Pride
Let’s start with a story.
Jesus disciples grew up hearing stories about a Messiah who would come and establish a new kingdom. Not only have they found this Messiah, but they’re also His close friends who have gotten a front row seat to all the incredible things he has done. They have no doubt that Jesus was going to establish a kingdom, overthrow their oppressors, and right all the wrongs in the world and they’re eager to be part of it, so they ask Jesus this question:
Matthew 18:1
“Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
It’s natural for people to desire and aspire to have status, power and preferential treatment- anyone who was ever been picked first… or last… for a dodgeball game knows this to be true.
So, Jesus, who's getting picked first? Who's the greatest?
Humility 101
Matthew 18:2-4
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Become like a child?
This is counterintuitive to us even today, but for Jesus' disciples, this would have been almost disorienting. Children sat at the bottom of the social hierarchy—they were the least powerful—(definitely getting picked last for dodgeball)- yet Jesus points to the heart of a child as the standard for greatness.
Imagine the heart of a child that hasn’t been sullied by our sinful world.
They recognize and embrace their dependency on others.
They trust those who care for them without overcomplicating matters.
They’re free of cynicism and the hardness of heart that can so easily accompany age.
They’re teachable and quick to admit what they don’t know.
They find joy in simple things.
They have little awareness or care for status or appearances.
They forgive with little hesitation.
One of the great joys of having children in your life is the opportunity to see life through their eyes- the wonder when they look at Christmas lights, or bubbles, or a garbage truck. Their energy and excitement brings joy to our hearts and evokes laughter from even the crankiest of us.
We get to watch them look back at us for comfort and confidence. They let us hold them when they hurt. They come to us when they have questions.
How much does our Father in heaven desire this kind of vulnerable trust from us?
To be great in God’s kingdom, you need to let go of your ego, your sense of entitlement, and your ambition for power. It’s not about climbing the ladder but about realizing that the ladder doesn’t matter. Humility isn’t just being "nice" or "polite"—it’s a complete shift in how we see ourselves and our role in the world.
The Foot-Washing Leader
Let’s look at one of Jesus’ most powerful moments of humility: washing His disciples’ feet.
The night before Jesus was crucified he shared a meal with his disciples. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Jesus was the one with most authority and power in that room, so let’s observe how Jesus chooses to flex this power.
John 13:4-5
So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
Jesus—knowing full well that He has all authority and power— he chooses to put himself in the lowest possible position.
Jesus disciple, Peter watches while Jesus washing the feet of his 10 friends, but when Jesus comes to him he refuses
John 13:8
“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
On the surface this seems like a humble act for Peter, but what we’re actually seeing here is pride— so let’s get into it….
Pride
When Peter refuses Jesus act of kindness he communicates several things;
I don’t need your help
I won’t accept your gift
Or the more subtle side of pride we rarely acknowledge:
I’m not good enough
The statement "I'm not good enough" can reveal pride by keeping the focus on ourselves and seeking validation or control of the situation.
If I can be really vulnerable for a second… I’ve personally been called out for this kind of pride 3 times in just the last 2 weeks. It’s hard to swallow, understand or accept because it can feel, look and smell* like humility. Even the act of not accepting this definition of pride reveals our pride. Pride isn’t always big and boisterous - but it is always focussed on self.
And this is what we see in Peter’s words - Pride.
but Jesus isn’t having any of that.
John 13:8
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
From the context of the verses that follow we know that Jesus isn’t talking about salvation, but fellowship. If I can paraphrase:
Peter, if you don’t accept this gift, we cannot have the fellowship we both desire.
If you won’t humble yourself, our relationship will suffer.
Are your relationships with God and others suffering because of subtle pride?
If you answered “no” real quick in your head…. I challenge you to ask yourself the question a couple more times…. I promise I’m talking to myself just as much as I am to you.
Pride, whether subtle or not can drive a wedge in even the best of relationships.
Alright… Let’s finish up with a look at a less subtle pride…
A Warning About Pride
Jesus tells a parable in Luke 18:9-14 about two men praying at the temple. The first man was a Pharisee, a holy man in the eyes of the people. The second man was a tax collector, considered a thief and enemy in their community.
Luke 18:11-12
“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’”
I wish this was less relatable, but I know for certain I’ve heard my inner voice say “At least I’m not that person” far too many times.
Even if this religious man is a little too big for his britches, he is doing good things right?
It’s good to not behave like cheaters, sinners and adulterers right? Sure!
It’s good to fast and give away a tenth of your income right? You betcha! **
But here’s the question to be wrestled with: do these kinds of acts make you a humble person? Absolutely not. Do not mistake religiosity for Christlike humility.
Luke 18:13
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”
The contrast between these two men is vast in almost every way.
A man of status who, in the eyes of the world around him, has done all the "right" things and boastfully stands, declaring how good he is.
And a despised man, who has made all the wrong choices, drops his gaze and, with a genuine heart, repents for what he’s done.
Let’s see what Jesus has to say about these two men…
Luke 18:14
“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
What a beautiful summary for the kind of humility Jesus was for, and the pride that Jesus was against. Like he does so often, Jesus takes flips the script to reveal God’s heart.
Practical Takeaways
Be Humble Like a Child: Humility looks like depending on God, not on ourselves.
Wash the Feet of Others: True humility is serving others without concern for our own status.
Watch Out for Pride: If your desire is to be the greatest, then shift your gaze to what Jesus says greatness is.
That’s it for this week, folks!
Remember, greatness isn’t in the spotlight—it’s in the small, humble acts of love we offer to others. And if Jesus can wash feet, then maybe, just maybe, we can pick up a towel too.***
See you next week for more For and Against—where we keep discovering that Jesus is for things that turn this world upside down and against the things that weigh us down. Til then! 🌿
*I’m actually not sure what humility smells like? Children and feet maybe…
** Totally in the dictionary… I’m just as surprised as you
*** Someone brought to my attention the other day that Jesus’ towel must have been HUGE! He was able to tie it all the way around his waist, kneel down in it and use it to dry the feet of his disciples. I’ve thought about this a ridiculous amount over the last week. This fact may just be my new Roman Empire.
