My roommate in college came up with a “philosophy” that ended up as a sign on our dorm room door.

Be sincere…whether you mean it or not!

Yes, it was a joke. But you may know people who apparently have taken that slogan to heart. Humility falls into that category, too. There are people who are pseudo-humble, and you know by the rest of their life and activities that humility is not their core belief. Yes…humble…and proud of it.

One church media ministry was doing a commendable thing by giving small awards…special pins…for those who showed expertise, teamwork, and humility. When they gave out the humility pin at a dinner, I wondered (out loud, I’m afraid) if they wore their humility pin, did that immediately negate their award? Humble…and proud of it.

A business consultant and mentor to many major ministry leaders, the late Fred Smith, wrote about humility as a quality he wanted to see in a pastor. Some wise words here.

“I would want my pastor to not act humble, but actually be humble. I have always used the definition of humility as: ‘not denying the power, but admitting it comes through you and not from you.’”

Power comes through you…not from you.

I believe that’s a good word for more than pastors. As we give leadership to others, how do we present ourselves? As the all-knowing authority? Or as one who acknowledges that all we have…our experience, our wisdom…comes from God. Listen to the scriptures:

Everything we have has come from you [God], and we give you only what you first gave us!

1 Chronicles 29:14b NLT

Paul underscored this truth when writing to his believing friends in Rome:

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36 NLT

So how can we claim anything we have as coming from us? Power? Wisdom? Strategy? True humility comes as we recognize that it is God who is at work in us and through us to accomplish His will for His purpose. The late Dr. Henry Blackaby, writing in Experiencing God Day by Day, says humility is something hard for us humans, particularly for leaders who seek to be effective in their efforts.

“There are two ways to attain high esteem. One is the world’s method: Take every opportunity to promote yourself before others; seize occasions for recognition and manipulate your way into the center of attention. The other way is God’s way: Humble yourself. Rather than striving for recognition and influential positions, seek to put others first. Cultivate humility, for it does not come naturally.”

Did you catch that? Cultivate humility, for it does not come naturally.

You know, now that I think about it, that would have made a far better slogan for the sign on my dorm room door.

God’s best,