Humility: An Ancient but Most Important Virtue

Dr. Chinnamma Baines*

Why it is time to bring back this most important yet forgotten virtue humility?

How do I live a humble life within the current postmodern culture?

On reflection I had viewed myself as a humble person. Once I began to learn more about humility, I realized that practising humility daily requires Godly wisdom and grace. Humility has been interpreted in many ways.

What is humility?

• Humility is the mother of all virtues including purity, charity, and obedience and practised in most cultures since ancient times. Humility is not lacking low self-esteem or self confidence but seeing oneself as an individual with strengths as well as flaws. Humility is being spiritually modest, yet it could be misunderstood as self-deprecation or being excessively modest. Nelson Mandela acknowledged himself as a humble person claimed that humility is the most important virtue.

• Humility is recognizing one’s own ignorance about who you are as a person. This leads to self awareness which is fundamental in acknowledging one’s own strengths and weaknesses. A humble person is open to feedback and learning something new everyday. When one is open to learning from others it fosters trust, a key ingredient in forming loving and trusting relationships.

• Love is an integral part of humility. Loving relationships bring joy to life and looks at even meager blessings as joyful. A humble person is not a threat to others but builds loving relationships. Genuine humility can build relationships and unity as opposed to selfish ambition or conceit which brings discord. Humility enables one to be authentic, genuine, and honest in relationships. It is also thinking of oneself less, an antidote to narcissism. A self-centered person can become narcissistic lacking empathy. Moreover, selfish ambition can ruin relationships while genuine humility can build it.

• For example, in an academic culture, I wanted to be assertive to get ahead within the organizational hierarchy. My ambition for promotion and achievement often clashed with my desire to be humble. I had to compete with my own colleagues. I had to be assertive and humble at the same time and that was difficult.

• Humility is also being an attentive listener. I have struggled with this attribute as I needed to look for virtues in others rather than dwelling on faults.

To be humble, I am to practice silence and refrain from judging and ridiculing others. When I listen with total attention, I display empathy and magnanimity. Having the confidence that my identity in Christ is the basis of my self-worth gives me assurance.

• Humility compels me to stay within my own domain of competence. In my role as a nurse educator and an administrator, it is important to stay competent within the constantly changing technology and social media-driven culture. Whereas asking questions displays humility and provides opportunity to learn.

The practice of humility varies in various cultures based on their perspective of humility. In my early years I observed the practice of humility within the caste system in India.

Caste system is an integral part of Hindu religion and is deeply rooted in Indian culture. The Caste system divides people into hierarchical groups based on the work they do. There is a group called ‘Dalits’ or ‘untouchables’ who are the street sweepers and the latrine cleaners. They are the lowliest in the caste culture. Those who are higher in the caste system expect the Dalits to display ‘humility’. For an untouchable, ‘dharma’ (duty) of caste is a menial one and one has no desire to oppose it. “It is good to ignore a street sweeper because it humbles her, she wears a faded sari, and moves as she does because that too, is humbling. Her status is a humble one, and in her life is to live down to it” (Keay 1999. p.131). Such display of humbling oneself as inferior to another would be in contrast to my belief which emphasises that God created us in His own image (Imago Dei). Moreover, humility is interpreted as being weak and inferior in a caste culture. Whereas within a postmodern culture power is more amicable in influencing others.

The virtue of humility is forgotten and not valued in postmodern culture. But if you are not humble you could easily become proud, self-conceited, and arrogant. According to C.S. Lewis, pride is the ‘big sin’. A proud person enjoys having power Pride and power are hallmarks of postmodern culture which tends to suppress the practice of humility. On the contrary, Jesus has taught us to humble ourselves before God and others. Pride is also enmity with God. If one is proud, one cannot know God. A proud person is always looking down on others. Pride can even be diabolical (utmost evil) a spiritual cancer that kills the proclivity to love and to be truthful. “God resists the proud but giveth grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

The complex and vague ideology inherent in postmodern culture has been challenging to my beliefs. For example, I believe in objective (unchanging) truth. However, in postmodern culture subjective truth (relative truth) replaces objective truth. Postmodernists claim that there is no objective truth. Instead, they construct based on lived experience. Thus, the truth becomes relative to the experience of each individual. In sharp contrast, Jesus claimed, ‘I am the Truth’. The scripture I have read with reverence is deconstructed with new meaning. Jacques Derrida, the French philosopher, took a lead role in deconstructing grand narratives.

Humility involves an honest assessment of one’s strengths, abilities, and gifts and recognizing that these are God-given. Consistent with the postmodern culture, I recall having the desire to promote myself within my organization to get ahead in my career. Is this a selfish ambition? Valuing others above myself and sacrificing my own interest for others’ sake is contradicting the postmodern value of self promotion. This desire to self promotion is in stark contradiction to what Jesus has taught: “Humble yourself in God’s mighty hands, He will lift you up in His own good time” (1 Peter 5:6).

With humility you gain Godly wisdom to humble yourself rather than to exalt yourself. There is no hatred and revenge in humility. It suppresses one’s intellectual ego and learn to appreciate opportunities available to expand own potential but use that potential to serve others. Jesus Christ humbled himself in obeying his Father’s will.

Humility is a core value in Christianity and the foundation for living a Christian life. “God resists the proud, but giveth grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Jesus is the best example for practising humility. He humbly followed God’s plan for His life. Jesus Christ, the most powerful man ever walked on the face of the earth chose to be obedient to his Father unto his death on the cross. Jesus gave up his rights and obeyed God. In his humility, he revealed to us God’s character in human terms. He showed us the example of putting others first. He told us true greatness comes from serving others. The highest position in the Kingdom of God is servant (to serve). God loves the humble servant. Jesus came to serve. Mother Teresa was known as a humble servant of God. She claimed that God needs our poverty not our abundance. She found joy in serving others. “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

In my pursuit of serving God, I must discover who I am. What is my vision for myself at this phase in my life? Am I courageous or a coward? If I understand myself, I can also begin to understand people around me. How am I reacting emotionally with my family members daily. Am I challenging myself? Who am I comparing myself with? Jordan Peterson has recommended that one should compare oneself with who he/she was yesterday. This would open opportunity to make improvement and grow. I humbly look up to Jesus and pray for His guidance when I face challenges within the current postmodern culture.

Overcome Pride with Humility. It is time to bring back humility with lives that are gracious, unassuming, and character driven. Presumably I have reached the last decade of my life. Therefore, each day is precious and a gift from God. I want to live the best life possible to serve God and others. In doing so I must pray for humility, gratitude, and wisdom each day.

I conclude with my prayer: Jesus my Lord, you exalted me from my humble beginnings. I am saved by your grace and grateful for all that You have done for me. Keep me humble, let me not think I am better than anyone else, for dust I am and unto dust I shall return. Thank you for giving me hope in my life.

References (The following sources were helpful for this reflection)

1. Baines, Chinnama. Kerala to Kamloops: One Nurse’s Journey of Gratitude. KDP Amazon, 2020.

2. C.S. Lewis. Mere Christianity. Harper Collins, 1980.

3. Keay, John. Into India. Cambridge: University Press, 1999.

4. Mother Teresa, No Greater Love. Servant Publications, Inc. 1995.

5. Peterson, Jordan. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. Random House Canada, 2018.

6. Schaffner, Anna Katharina. The Art of Humility: Why it is time for an urgent spiritual modesty. Psychology Today. June 8, 2020. pp. 1-5

*Dr Chinnamma Baines has been a leader in nursing education, and a diaspora pioneer in Canada (Kamloops, British Columbia) since the early 1960s. Her 2020 memoir ‘Kerala to Kamloops: One Nurse's Journey of Gratitude’ provides a fascinating and inspiring life story. Chinnama served on the RNABC Board in Canada for two terms and assumed a leadership role in promoting baccalaureate education in nursing as a requirement for RN practice. She chaired the RNABC Entry to Practice Committee while on the Board. She was a founding member of the Collaborative Nursing Programs in BC.