A Lesson in Humility

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Love is not self-seeking. Many times when we love others we are constantly thinking, "What am I getting in return for loving this person?" Instead, we should love others more than we love ourselves.

Christ showed us an example of this when He washed the disciples' feet in John 13:1-20. Jesus had finished eating dinner with His disciples when He got up and began to wash each disciple's feet. In those days, if the people wore shoes at all they wore sandals. Think about the area they were in (sandy and dusty). . . so we assume their feet were dirty, nasty and the disciples were men (so manly feet). But Jesus didn't care, He knew the time he had left on earth was short and that this was the last time He would be with all of them. John tells us that Jesus had His love for the disciples on His mind.

Out of that love He taught them one last lesson: HUMILITY! This was an important lesson for the disciples to learn. Jesus had already said that loving your neighbor as yourself was the second greatest commandment and it is only second to loving God with all our heart. Jesus knew that in order for the disciples to love others and fulfill the mission of spreading the gospel they would have to be humble and love others more than themselves. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that humility and service to others is evidence of love.

We are quick to line up to do the things that are considered to be important, glamorous, or respected. But Jesus demonstrated true love through humility by doing a dirty job that was usually performed by the lowest ranking person in the room. Jesus was not the lowest person in the room. Jesus was Lord and He knew that He would soon be at God's side in heaven, but He didn't think that washing feet was too lowly of a job for Him.

Many times it's the dirty, smelly jobs that need to be done to show our love to others. As Christians, we need to be willing to do whatever is needed of us (regardless of whether it's below our pay grade or social status). Jesus was not only willing, but He was prepared to serve. It is our responsibility to fill the needs we see, whatever they are. James 4:17 says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

Jesus showed that He cared for others more than He cared for Himself by humbling Himself to love them with His affections. By loving others with our affections, we forget about what we're getting out of it and are willing to be there for others. When we begin to love our neighbors as ourselves, we show it with our affections. A pat on the back, encouragement, a smile, a hug, mowing their yard, cooking a meal, all these demonstrate a humble spirit. Humble service to others through our affections is evidence that we love others as ourselves.