Humility by Andrew Murray could possibly be one of the best books… I’ve read these past few years. If there is a decision to be made about the most effective battle strategy of Christianity than it most certainly falls on humility. Most people perceive winning battles against the enemy as a physical struggle, but more specifically, a longing to win regardless of circumstance or situation. Humility lets go of our regard to win arguments or be proven right but instead takes higher regard for the rights of the one true God. It is thinking of yourself less frequently rather than thinking less of yourself.  This is the ultimate state of mind to achieve and the only man who has truly achieved this great state was our savior Jesus. He is the only man who had the authority and the right to stand up for his rights above all others but yet he still chose the path of the grave. He chose instead the path of humility and suffering and because of that we can now live as real men.

There are several major points that Murray brings up. One is in the realization of who God is. Humility is not something to bring to God or to bestow, “but it is simply the sense of entire nothingness that comes when we see how truly God is everything. When the creature realizes that this is a place of honor, and consents to be—with his will, his mind, and his affections—the vessel in which the life and glory of God are to work and manifest themselves, he sees that humility is simply acknowledging the truth of his position as creature and yielding to God His place.”

“Jesus continually contradicts us as we view ourselves as alive.” This quote from Ravi Zacharias speaks of the truth behind this attribute of humility. Jesus, the very Son of God, the manifestation of the Glory of the creator of heaven and Earth does not ever act as people predict. He did not burst out in power and force but rather submitted himself to the weaker. When we’ve achieved a status of comfort with ourselves or with our character and say, “I think I have achieved a status of “goodness” compared to everyone else,” then we have failed at humility from the start. When we look at the person of Jesus and his life, all competition goes out the window. Nobody has achieved the accomplishment of humility without Him as the point of reference. The largest point that is made in Humility I believe is this: Humility can only be achieved by observing the master and author of Humility and to merely follow that example.

Humility is how we fight our enemy. It is not with swords and spears, but rather attitudes and ideas. The more we have the appearance of Christ, the more effective and deadly we will be to our enemy. This attitude is essential to campus ministry in every way possible because it is the only means in which to communicate and fellowship with people. Have you ever met a humble person? Have you noticed yourself enticed by their personality? Humility done correctly tends to be magnetic. Everyone really wants a friend that is truly unselfish; what person wouldn’t?

Humility in my personal life is a continual process that I reach for daily. The battle and struggle against self is a constant war that I face. I know that if I can just look at the person of Jesus and follow him with my heart, mind, and soul than humility will have already crept in my life unnoticed. Humility is only achieved when we look upon the face of someone else rather than ourselves, and there is none better to gaze upon than Jesus.