The Humility That Leads to Glory

One of the hardest things about being human is our tendency to think too highly of ourselves. We convince ourselves that we can handle life on our own. We think we are in charge and that we don’t need anyone else.

But Jesus warns against this kind of pride. In the parable of the banquet, he tells us not to claim the highest place for ourselves. If we do, we risk not only embarrassment but judgment. Instead, we should take the lowest place and wait to be invited higher. True honor comes not from self-assertion but from humility.

The Letter to the Hebrews makes the same point in another way. We do not come before God by our own strength. He is the judge of all, and Christ is our mediator. A mediator is someone who settles a dispute. We cannot reconcile ourselves to God on our own. No sacrifice of ours, apart from Christ, is sufficient. We approach the heavenly Jerusalem only through him.

This is uncomfortable because it requires humility. We must admit that we are not in control. We cannot determine what happens to us, how others act, or even our own emotions. Pride tells us otherwise. Pride insists we are self-sufficient, that we must look out for “number one,” and that our own willpower is enough. But in reality, the only thing we truly control is how we choose to act. And even then, how often do our actions come from self-interest rather than love?

This is why Jesus tells us to invite the poor, the crippled, and the lame. They cannot repay us, and that is the point. Love must be offered freely, detached from the expectation of reward. When we love this way, we reflect the very heart of God. For God gains nothing from us, yet he gives himself completely and without reserve.

Scripture reminds us not to reach beyond our strength, but to seek wisdom. The world teaches us to grasp at recognition and advancement, but these honors fade quickly. The lasting reward belongs to the humble, to those who accept their limits and rely on God. Jesus himself shows us the way: though he is Lord of heaven and earth, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and gave his life for us. That is humility in its fullness. And it is the same humility that God exalts, raising Christ from death to glory. If we wish to share that glory, we must walk the same path of self-emptying love.

Let us ask ourselves:  Where in my life is Christ inviting me to set aside pride and practice humility in love?