I don’t know if anyone has ever referred to me as humble.

“Oh you know Ellen? That humble, young lady…”

This sounds so out of place on so many levels. 😭😂😭😂😭 Charley, I like talking.I always have something to say and people like me?…tsk tsk. The humble ones are the cool, calm, collected and gentle kind. But it’s ok. It’s all good. We never bore.

On a more serious note, is humility synonymous to introversion? Have you ever thought a quiet person to be proud?

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29-30 | NIV

Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 | NIV

If I read right, these scriptures say humility is a heart issue. So errm, I beg o, those who have been calling people proud by their style of walking, how far na?😂

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13 | NIV

Granted. Humility has an external quality. After all, people filled with pride in their hearts inadvertently spew prideful speech and find it difficult to serve. But does the fact that she’s serving with a smile on her face mean she’s not murmuring in her heart? Yes, he’s calm and gentle and always paying obeissance to the elders. Is his heart paying obeissance as well?

I think each man is a better judge of the intents and estimations of his own heart. We cannot be too sure of another’s humility. Regular checks, if any, ought to be done primarily on ourselves. Here’s the gold standard;

Phillipians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Self-explanatory, I guess?

Conceit.

  1. an excessively favorable opinion of one’s own ability, importance, wit, etc.

Fortunately this word is not thrown about often in our part of the world.People prefer “too know!” where “too know” is the utility word for pride, intelligence, conceit, confidence, eloquence, arrogance, boldness, sophistication… in fact, everything!😂

Years ago, this was a tough battle for me. My natural choleric tendencies saw me always at the forefront. Poetry recital, class prefect, etc. I could never have escaped the “too know” title.

But in getting closer to God whilst growing up, I had to take inventory of myself to make sure what was said wasn’t a true reflection of who I was.

Thankfully, I had never been satisfied with any “glorified” state. I always wanted more. I still do actually. I came to a full acceptance that it was and still is God alone who is able to give me the “more” I desire. So I keep looking up to Him for more. Charley, until “more” happens, we cannot have an “excessively favorable opinion of our own ability” o! Even after “more”, there’s still more!🤗

I think this mindset put my heart in check everytime it tried to sway. And if this has been your battle as a growing christian, Phillipians 2:1-11 does some justice to the topic. When you’re done, you can read it here.

So here’s the catch. Let’s give our extroverts a break, erh? They’re not always filled with pride. The gentle ones too, since your left precordium (😎😎😎) is not transparent so we see your heart on the regular ,we’ll try to refrain from automatically tagging you humble.

PS:

My favourite group of people though, are those who confidently describe themselves as humble.

Then you find ” I’m a cool and humble guy.” sitting comfortably in their bios!

Faamm?! That’s pride in a fancy, red jacket!😂😂