There is something I find frustrating about humility. Humility cannot be taught. Humility cannot be forced. Humility, at the furthest extent, can be encouraged, but in doing so there may be acknowledging that you are humble, which defeats the purpose of humility. There's where it lies: purpose. Everything should have some sort of purpose, shouldn't it? What then is the purpose of humility? It is inward. There are outward manifestation of humility, yes, but I believe the purpose lies in the inward. The inward purpose of humility should be the improvement of character, the shifting of focus from personal needs to the needs possessed by others.
In Luke 18:9-14, we find the parable of two men, a pharisee and a tax collector, who go to the temple to pray. The pharisee prays with pomp, thanking God that "that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector." Following, he rattles off a laundry list of humble things that he has done. In stark contrast, the tax collector stands in the corner. He feels the weight of iniquity weighing on his heart to the point where he cannot so much as lift his eyes beyond the horizon. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" is all he can utter. It's so simple. There is no attempt at justification. There is no pleading for any specific thing... except mercy. How similar it is to the plea of Jesus at His temporary end of "Forgive them for they do not know what they do" - a plea for mercy. There are no promises to do better in the future, just an acknowledgment of his present state.
I find it easy to accuse the pharisee of being misguided in the same way we look at Peter sinking into the sea. Wow, he was weak. He was unfaithful. Surely I'm not. Can we really say that? Can we preach "Don't be like Peter. Don't be like the pharisee."? I would contend that we can and should speak this message. Learning from your past is a necessary part of improving life today. However, these contentions must first be presented in light of "You ARE Peter. You ARE the pharisee." You are not in any way removed from the character of those who have failed before you. You may build on their experiences, but more than likely, your tendencies are closer to those of the original offender. You. Are. No. Better.
Show me someone who hasn't taken some pride in a position they held, in an act they performed, in a situation they handled. For those who do not fall into that category, how should humility be expressed in these situations? There are the DO NOTS of not bragging, not blowing it up bigger than it was, not thinking of yourself as higher than others. What are the DOS of humility, though?
Have I said that I find humility frustrating yet? Those who know me know me as a go-get-'em type, always looking for something to DO. It's what I was taught. "Sabbath is not about what we CAN'T DO, it's about what we CAN DO." "No, DON'T watch TV. Go DO something." That is something I'm realizing. Humility may be more of DON'T DO this, and... and... don't do anything else. Do nothing. Whoever you're interacting with in this situation in which you're trying to express humility will have the control of the situation. In a sense, you have the higher ground in a conflict as compared to someone else, but you allow the counterpart on the lower slopes to dictate how you should interact. If you were to take down your fortifications to give them a better chance, that only serves to remind them of their mediocre status. If you allow them to make the call to take down your fortifications, then they have control of the situation yet the consequence stays the same.
It's hard to let go of control. The illusion of letting go can come in the forcing of control on another. Commanding someone to take control of a situation is sometimes not giving up control at all. There is something that must be said for things being allowed to bloom in their time. Humility can be the acknowledgment of that. Humility can be DON'T DOing. In his short and sweet prayer, the tax collector does not ask for anything but mercy. Otherwise, he leaves the door open for God to do anything. He does not make any commitments to be better in the future.
The funny thing is that that's what I've been taught all this time. Jesus paid it all. The only thing you need to do is let go, then hang onto Him by hanging onto nothing else which doesn't have the most exhaustive to-do list I've seen...
And so, as Paul says in 1 Tim 1:15 (with some paraphrasing) "Christ Jesus came into the world to save [those who thought they could do something to save themselves], of whom I am chief." This applies to the spiritual walk as well as other walks of life. Humility is a venture into the realm of patience, of idleness with the purpose of DOing something much greater for others and yourself "in the secret places [Matt 6:6]" than would ever be possible with our own faculties.
Best Wishes!
~Richie
P.S. Thank you to all the friends who have gotten me to wrestle with these things. I would not be growing as much without you.