Jim Collins, author of Good to Great and other best-selling books on leadership, says the defining characteristic of the very best leaders is humility. 

How did God forecast the coming Messiah? What sign did he say to watch for? The Righteous and Victorious King to Come would come completely opposite every other ruler they knew. His righteousness would be defined by humility. His victory would be achieved by humility. His life and work would be defined by humility. 

What if the next time the church we attend seeks a pastor, we don’t seek one with a growing social media platform, including a podcast of his daily thoughts on every item in the news?

What if the next time we seek a community leader, we don’t seek one who brings top-level credentials and all the right appointments to point the way and instead choose one who loves drawing people together in common purpose, doing what is right, just, fair, and compassionate for everyone? 

You get the picture. In God’s reckoning, which, of course, is the final reckoning, the ultimate reckoning, you might say, humility is the defining characteristic not only of political, business, and church leaders but of all leaders everywhere. This extends to us and how we lead ourselves. 

If you want to know the content of a person’s character, it is most frequently displayed in his or her relative measure of humility. Bossypants may be the style of the day, but the style of eternity is humility. 

Of course, this also means I need to crawl down off of this high horse myself and find my own foal of a donkey. One theologian pointed out the hilarity we miss in reading words like these above. First-time rides on donkeys tend not to go that well. Untrained and unrestrained donkeys are going to rebel and kick and jump and, well, lead the kind of parade that makes people laugh rather than stand in awe. 

Jesus was humble enough to look foolish in front of people who spent a lot of time trying to look like they were above it all. 

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, we have been told. Instead, it is thinking of yourself less. It is focusing on the needs of others. It is awareness of what the moment demands. It is a posture of service demonstrated by what is best for everyone always. Humility is kind. Humility is evidence of proper love for God and for ourselves. 

Love is patient; love is kind. Humility is demonstrated by loving well.

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I will cultivate humility through a disposition of patience and kindness. 

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Our Father, please forgive my bossypants ways. Forgive me for acting like I’m in charge here. Forgive me for knowing exactly what I need to say to set everyone straight. Empower me to live with a disposition of patience and kindness. Empower me to remember that it is sometimes preferable to step back than to lean in. Amen.