Humility. It’s something we often don’t think much about. In our society, everyone is competing to make more money, to get the top spot in whatever they do, and to win. Always to win.

It’s especially that way in sports. Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos (NFL football for my non-sportsy friends;) had an ad out at the Superbowl last year supporting Focus on the Family, a pro-life organization. (Click below to see the ad. I personally don’t see why anyone would find it terribly offensive, but whatever.)

Tebow, aka “God’s Quarterback,” is up front about his faith in Christ, and this rubs people the wrong way quite often. I admire the guy because in the world of professional sports, when it’s the norm to be promiscuous, greedy, rude, etc., he goes against the grain, is humble, and openly prays during games. He is being who he is, an authentic person. Even if you don’t agree with his beliefs, you have to respect him for being true to himself and to God whom he worships.

He is a wonderful role model in today’s “all-about-me” society as someone who is faithful and humble. He attributes all of his blessings to God. He usually has a bible verse on his eye black during each game. The one I saw recently was Eph. 2:8-10, which reads

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Tebow knows that God has prepared him to do good works in His name, and that his success is not of his own accord. Pretty cool when you think of all the arrogance in professional sports.

It’s also really important to have humility in marriage. Being humble gives you the ability to think of your spouse’s needs before my own, to perform acts of service for him, and acknowledge your own strengths and weaknesses.

Am I always humble? Of course not. I’m far from perfect, but always striving to do the right thing and to be a good person in God’s eyes is what I expect out of myself.

Are you humble?

Here is a check list to help examine the humility in your own heart:

• Am I able to admit when I am wrong?
• Do I handle criticism well or do I get defensive?
• Am I able to recognize my own weaknesses and learn from them?
• Do I tend to talk more or listen more?
• Am I gracious when I am right and someone else is wrong or do I tend to gloat?
• Do I give credit to those who have helped me or would I rather enjoy claiming glory for myself?
• Do I enjoy “working behind the scenes” or would I rather be up front showing off?
• Am I willing to ask for help if I need it?
• Do I tend to get to know people for who they are, or do I judge them by their appearances?
• Do I think of others’ needs (especially my spouse) before thinking of my own?

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14
He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”