If pride is the spiritual equivalent of spinach in the teeth (everyone but you seems to see it and finds it a gross), I think humility might be the stealth bomber (quiet to the point of being unnoticed, but powerful).
In recent weeks I’ve been privy to three wonderful encounters with leaders who were challenged in one way or another, and rather than respond out of defensiveness (an outworking of pride), they responded humbly. There was listening, dialogue, acceptance and apology where needed. The result? Tensions defused, personal growth for all parties, relational and agenda harmony. And in that the leader’s position was strengthened.
How ironic that our desire to be or appear strong causes us to respond in pride, while the transparency of humility is what actually makes us strong.
Philippians 2: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
