“Mommy, can you help me?”
Every mother hears those words from her toddler or preschooler on a regular basis. No matter what she may be doing, she stops to help her child with whatever he or she is struggling with. The little one never hesitates to ask for help when it is needed, and mothers never hesitate to give it.
When you make a list of character traits needed for ministry, especially for a leader, humility is not often included. You think of strong, decisive or many other traits that define someone in that role. And yet, like the child who recognizes when he or she needs someone bigger and stronger, we must also recognize that we can do nothing apart from God. Instead of calling on Him as a last resort when things don’t work out, we need to learn to go to Him first.
Humility Provides Direction
When we think we know how things should go, we have a tendency to jump right in. We don’t give God a chance to direct us, much less show us and others His power. We get to take the credit for whatever happens, which is often far less than what would happen if we let Him have control.
A humble attitude enables us to take the time to ask God for his direction and let Him lead us in His own time. We would make so many fewer mistakes if we would just humble ourselves and ask for God’s help before we take charge. Imagine how many ministry mistakes would be prevented with an attitude of humility that says “I can’t do this, God, but you can.”
Humility Provides Blessings
The Bible tells us that if we call on the Lord, He will show us great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33:3). Another verse says to humble ourselves and seek God. When we are humble towards God, our hearts are open to His leading. We recognize that we can’t do anything on our own. This openness doesn’t make us weak; instead, it makes us strong enough to handle whatever task He gives us to do.
When we recognize that we are relying on God’s power and strength instead of our own, we know that anything can happen. The impossible becomes possible; the distant dream becomes a reachable goal. So often in ministry, you must dream big with no hope of attaining that dream. Limited resources, few volunteers and insurmountable obstacles in your way cause you to wonder if you can make a difference.
With a humble attitude, you realize that you can do nothing on your own, but in God’s power you can make a difference in people’s lives. You can have an eternal impact that goes far beyond what you can imagine. All of this happens because God is working through you. He chose you to accomplish His goals. Ponder that thought for a while and it will increase your humility.
