Matthew 18:1-6 True Humility

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. [Matthew 18:1‭-‬6 NASB]

People in this world strive for greatness, and the church is not exempt. I have heard pastors boasting about the size of their church, or the breadth of their outreach in such terms that they are saying, in other words, "see how great I am in the kingdom of Heaven."

Here's the truth. The pastor of a megachurch will receive no greater rewards than the person who stays at home and faithfully prays each day. In fact, I will go so far as to say that the mega-pastor is at greater risk of losing his reward if he enjoys the accolades of the crowds, or if he allows pride to enter into his heart.

This hearkens back to Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 5:3 NASB] Jesus isn't telling us to be childish, nor to act like children in every way, but is pointing out the humility of a child. Don't throw a tantrum and excuse yourself by saying, "I'm just being child-like." Jesus told his disciples, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." [Matthew 10:16 NKJV]

Don't fall into the trap of affecting false humility. And don't equate shyness with humility. Shyness is often just a manifestation of fear.

There was no more humble man than Jesus. So let's follow His example.

Paul said, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." [Philippians 2:5-8 NASB]

Jesus said, "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”" [Luke 14:8-11 NASB]

True humility isn't shuffling your toe and saying "Aw shucks" when you receive a compliment. Nor is it self abasement. It is putting others first. Paul said it this way, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;" [Philippians 2:3 NASB]

If we all regard one another as more important than we are, then we will be lifted up as we serve one another.