Be Humble or Be Humbled!
The Biblical Posture of Leadership:
In the grand halls of ancient Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar once stood at the top of his palace and declared, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30, NIV). But before the echo of his foolish and self-centered words had faded, the Lord humbled him. Stripped of his throne, he wandered the fields like a wild animal until he learned a painful but crucial lesson: humility is not optional for leaders—it is essential.
The truth is, leaders have two choices: Be humble, or be humbled.
The Bible is replete with reminders that God exalts the humble and opposes the proud.
- Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
- James 4:6 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
The ultimate example of humility is found in Jesus Christ. Though He is the eternal Son of God, possessing all authority, power, and glory from before time began, He chose to live and lead with genuine humility throughout His earthly life and ministry.
The Apostle Paul captures this profound truth in Philippians 2:5-8:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!”
This passage lays out an undeniable truth: Jesus, though fully God, led by humility. If the One who spoke the universe into existence (John 1:1-3) chose humility as His leadership posture, then how much more should we, as mere human beings, follow in His footsteps?
A Wise Warning from History
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”
Pride blinds leaders to the wisdom of God. It hardens hearts, dulls discernment, and makes us deaf to correction. Every leader who insists on their own greatness will eventually learn that God will not share His glory.
Application: Practice Humility!
- Acknowledge Your Dependence on God – Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Make it a daily habit to seek God’s wisdom and strength.
- Embrace Servant Leadership – Jesus washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:14-15). How can you serve those you lead rather than seeking to be served?
- Invite Accountability – Seek wise counsel from others who can speak truth into your life. A humble leader is a teachable leader.
- Give Credit, Take Responsibility – When things go well, give God and others the credit. When mistakes happen, take responsibility rather than shifting blame.
- Keep an Eternal Perspective – Remember that leadership is stewardship. Every role, every title, and every success is temporary. We lead for God’s glory, not our own.
Conclusion:
In the end, the choice is yours to make — be humble, or be humbled!
Nebuchadnezzar eventually humbled himself and declared, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37).
The choice is clear: We can humble ourselves before God, or He will do it for us. The wise leader bows low so that God may lift him high in His perfect time.
Choose to be humble. You’ll be glad you did!