2018: Book #30
“Humility has a real, visible form that manifests itself in everything from what believers title themselves to what they name their children; from how they make career decisions to how they spend their money; from the way churches worship to the way they spread the gospel. Humility, or the lack thereof, affects everything.”
This powerful quote is from, “Rediscovering Humility: Why the Way Up is Down,” a book by Chris Hutchinson…a great author who is also my pastor.
The premise of the book is simple: humility is the hallmark of Christian maturity.
Following Jesus should create greater humility in our lives. How that humility finds its way to the various crevices of our character is the journey of knowing Jesus.
Here are a few notable thoughts about the book:
- Prepare your heart. This book will rip your heart out. You’ll be forced to look at yourself from various angles. While reading it I discovered that I am far from humble. Arrogance is more of the rule than the exception in my life. This book helped me take one more step toward Jesus and another step away from myself.
- There is much to consider. Pride touches every area of our lives. I think some will criticize the book by thinking that Hutchinson is expecting too much growth too soon. Honestly, that wouldn’t be a fair criticism, especially when you read the book with a lifetime in view. God is working on us from the time we’re born until we draw our last breath. The book isn’t meant to be Three Steps to a More Humble Life. None of us can realistically expect to master a few areas of our lives and be all fixed up. Instead, Chris is making a scriptural case that our lives are to be marked by humility, for it is the evidence of following Jesus.
- There are a lot of do’s and don’ts in the book.Knowing the boundaries—whatever they are—is a good thing. Even so, Chris does NOT make humility into a series of rules or laws. Rather, he gives the reader guardrails and flares of hope. You’ll read statements like, “Humility does DO this…” or “Humility does NOT do this…” Such statements clear the clutter. No doubt, some will be eager to criticize the book, believing it’s really about rule keeping… it isn’t. Simply put, it is Christian maturity at work with good common Biblical sense.
I believe 100 percent that you should read this book. In fact, every believer should read this book. Every follower of Jesus should read this book and be prepared and willing to face thyself. There’s more joy in knowing Him than in building ourselves up into things that we’re not.
Here are some remarkable quotes from the book:
“Humility is the greatest prerequisite to faith in Christ and its most telling result. It is the alpha and omega of the gospel at work in God’s people. Humility ought to be the most prominent centerpiece of any Christian worldview.”
“What if pursuing a greater meekness is in fact attempting a great thing for God?”
“Some people are modest in victory, but complain in defeat; yet others are chastened by failure, but obnoxious in success.”
“Humility does not regard anyone as a true nobody. Instead, humility acknowledges that people’s true purpose is to live for God’s glory in service to Him and others. Despite their failures, believers are already forgiven in Christ. True humility lives in this tension and is thus bold in God’s grace.”
“Humility is the link between grace and unity, the glue of the gospel.”
“I decided that I like humility better in theory than in real flesh and blood.”
There you go; it’s a powerful read.
Sure, there’ll be some things that will make some readers uncomfortable, but there are greater lessons within—there’s the link between humility and liturgy and the gentle instructions for pastors who pray at civic events to name a few.
Did this book help me? Oh, yes. It’s definitely helped me as a leader. It’s been a powerful reminder that I am here to make the team better; the team doesn’t exist so I can feel better about myself.
I strongly urge you to go to Amazon and order “Rediscovering Humility: Why the Way Up is Down,” by Chris Hutchinson.
I give it a total 5 out of 5 stars.
That’s book #30 for 2018.
22 more to reach 52 for the year.
Remember, all leaders are readers.
If you want to be a better leader…be a reader.
#52in2018
