Pastor John Writes:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:10
Humility can be defined as “a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.” The word comes from the Latin word humilis, which may be translated as “humble”, but also as “grounded”, or “from the earth”, since it derives from humus, meaning earth or ground. When I think of the qualities of people I have admired over the years, often they have been gentle, kind, helpful, and humble.
Albert F. Bayly was a pastor in England for many years, and was described as “a shy, hospitable, gracious, and humble man.” He began writing hymns in 1945 as a Christian response to the problems and challenges he perceived in the world, as he had lived through the Great Depression and both world wars. Bayly had witnessed the devastation of war and poverty. In 1961, his hymn, “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service” was published, encouraging us to follow the example of Christ’s servant leadership. The hymn begins:
Lord, whose love in humble service
bore the weight of human need,
who upon the cross, forsaken,
worked your mercy’s perfect deed:
we, your servants, bring the worship
not of voice alone, but heart,
consecrating to your purpose
every gift which you impart.
This hymn is a reminder that we are called to be good stewards of the grace of God by using our gifts to serve. Jesus not only served us in life, but also through his death. Our response comes not only through our voices, but through our hearts and our very lives.
Christ’s challenge to each one of us is to become humble, to become fertile ground where the seed of the Word of God can grow and flourish and give glory to God by its fruits. Christ calls us to a life of humble service of one another, as he has shown us. For only by being last in this world can we be first in the world to come.
In Christ,
The Rev. John G. Rights
