Scripture makes it abundantly clear that
good leaders recognize that they are to serve those put in their charge and
that they are to do so with true humility. They also recognize that they have not
been put in their positions to benefit or aggrandize themselves.
Whoever would be great among you must be
your servant
The greatest among you
must be your servant. 12 Anyone
who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who
humbles himself will be raised up.
And they came to Caper′na-um;
and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the
way?” 34 But
they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was
the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve;
and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and
servant of all.”
For everyone who raises himself up will
be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.
Beware of the scribes, who like to go
about in long robes, and love salutations in the market places and the best
seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts
He said to them, “Among the gentiles it
is the kings who lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are
given the title Benefactor. 26 With you this must not happen. No; the
greatest among you must behave as if he were the youngest, the leader as if he
were the one who serves. 27 For who is the greater: the one at
table or the one who serves? The one at table, surely? Yet here am I among you
as one who serves!”
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given
all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose
from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5 Then
he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to
wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.
***
When he had washed their feet, and taken
his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have
done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are
right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For
I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
Give a shepherd's care to the flock of God
that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, as God
wants; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. 3
Do not lord it over the group which is in your charge, but be an example for
the flock.
But Hezekiah made no return for the benefit which he had received; he became proud and brought retribution on himself and on Judah and Jerusalem.26Then, however, Hezekiah did humble himself in his pride, and so did the inhabitants of Jerusalem; as a result of which, Yahweh's retribution did not overtake them during Hezekiah's lifetime.
My child, be gentle in
carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. 18The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then
you will find favor with the Lord
You save those who are humble, but you
humble those who are proud.
The man of haughty looks and arrogant
heart I
will not endure.
Yahweh, my heart is not
haughty, I do not set my sights too high. I have taken no part in great
affairs, in wonders beyond my scope. 2 No, I hold myself in quiet and silence, like a little child in
its mother's arms, like a little child, so I keep myself. 3 Let
Israel hope in Yahweh henceforth and for ever.
He mocks proud mockers, but
shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
There are six things which the Lord
hates, seven which are an abomination to him…17 haughty eyes…
When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
but with the humble is wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is instruction in
wisdom, and humility goes before honor.
Pride goes before destruction, and a
haughty spirit before a fall.
Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
Do not claim honor in the presence of
the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; 7 For
it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” Than for you to be placed
lower in the presence of the prince
Do not exalt yourself lest you fall and
bring dishonor upon yourself; for then the Lord will reveal your secrets and
cast you down in the midst of the assembly.
For the disease of the
proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.
When a powerful man invites you, be
reserved; and he will invite you the more often. 10 Do
not push forward, lest you be repulsed; and do not remain at a distance, lest
you be forgotten.
I will put an end to the pride of the
arrogant, and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless.
What does the Lord require of you but to
do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall
inherit the earth.
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and
become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever
humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has regarded the low estate of
his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for
he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And
his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to
generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the
proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down
the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he
has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
“When you are invited by any one to a
marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man
than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you
both will come, and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you will
begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you
are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he
may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher’; then you will be honored in the
presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For every one
who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be
exalted.”
Two men went up into the temple to pray,
one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee
stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not like other
men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I
fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But
the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven,
but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for
every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will
be exalted.
But he gives more grace; therefore it
says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with
humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the
humble.” 6 Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may
exalt you. 7 Cast
all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
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