A Humble Attitude
—5th element of spiritual wellbeing
In this study, we consider the fifth element of spiritual wellbeing, namely a humble attitude.
1 Meek But Not Weak
Humility, meekness, and lowliness are often associated with feebleness and insipidness. But if meekness is weakness, then Jesus was weak, for he was certainly meek and lowly.
Philippians 2:3. Paul says, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others as better than themselves... Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:3,5).
2 Our Self Esteem
Esteeming others as better than ourselves is humility, but not low self esteem. It means valuing ourselves as useful to others rather than valuing ourselves as a cut above others.
When you judge your own worth in terms of winning prestige, power, riches, and so forth, that leads to boastfulness. However, if you consider yourself an instrument for others' good, and a servant whose ministry is needed by others, you certainly don't have a sense of worthlessness or a low self-esteem. You have a true self-image which reflects the image of Christ and the netter eternal world beyond.
3 Giving Thanks
Philippians 1:3-4. Thanksgiving is part of a humble attitude. Paul was a man of thankful prayer. He said, "I thank my God on every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy" (Philippians 1:3-4).
Philippians 4:6. When we pray, we do two things. Firstly we give thanks and praise to God. Secondly we make requests of God.
We teach our children to say please and thank you. Well, that is about how simple prayer is. Paul writes, "With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6).
Prayer, offered in an attitude of thankfulness, will enable all the other elements of spiritual wellbeing to develop.
Why put off praying until we feel we have achieved something for God, or until we have trained our hearts to hold right attitudes? On the contrary, bring to God in prayer your problems and struggles in trying to attain these attributes. God will then help you to improve and excel in them.