Humble part 1
To be fair, I think the best definition of being humble is... well... "Being humble isn't about thinking less of yourself. Its just thinking about yourself less." Because you don't have to go around with the attitude of, "I'm a worm." Its ok to have self confidence--in the sense of knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Look at 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." And before we even get into this, I want to say that humbling yourself in order to be exalted isn't really humbling yourself. If you have an ulterior motive then what you're doing isn't pure. This isn't a shortcut to getting exalted. If your strategy is to do something--anything!--to be exalted then you need to look at what's really going on. If you care so much about getting to the top that you're willing to step on people then you really need to cast your cares on Him. Let the Lord--let LOVE--recalibrate you. Love is never about getting. Because love IS giving. The most humble thing you can do is love someone. The most holy thing you can do... is love someone. Its all about love. And since love is giving--giving everything you have and everything you are--being humble means doing what you can do. Not having that "I'm not good enough" mindset that we're so fond of. But instead just going about your business quietly. I heard this a while back and I really liked it: "If someone blesses you, never forget it. If you bless someone, never remember it." Which is to say, be grateful. And don't hold things over people's heads. "Remember when I did blah blah blah?" Yeah, I remember. So what? So, like, I owe you now? So that wasn't a gift from the kindness of your heart? I don't think we should do things out of obligation. I think we should do things heartily--to the best of our ability and because they are in our hearts to do them. So rather than thinking less of ourselves, just make sure we aren't focused on ourselves. If we cast our cares on the Lord, because we know He cares for us, that's when we can really focus on taking care of others. Look at Philippians 2:4, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Do you have to take care of business? Yes. Of course you do. But if you can help others... that IS taking care of business. If you're not worried--or full of care... because you've cast those cares on the Lord--about yourself, then you can see past yourself and you can look on the things of others. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Again, because love IS giving. And there is nothing more blessed than loving people. Being humble is simply esteeming others higher than yourself. Making sure others are covered. And, I'm telling you, if I'm taking care of you and you're taking care of me... neither one of us has to worry about ourselves. We're both covered! So let me end with this: Meekness (which is associated with humbleness) is not weakness. It is strength under control. And love is that strength. That power. Being humble isn't being weak. It is being secure enough to give people what you've got, because you know what you've got, and you know its worth sharing!