“Humility before God”: what does this really mean for an Orthodox Christian?

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Humility

- a moral quality that characterizes a person’s attitude towards himself.[1] This is “modesty of spirit; lack of pride; meekness". A humble person is “humble at heart; not proud." He is "polite and respectful"[2].

Humility

- virtue, humility, which can arise from the consciousness that perfection (divinity, moral ideal, sublime goal) to which a person strives remains infinitely distant. Humble behavior in relation to the outside world excludes untrue humility, which is actually self-abasement and slavish obedience. True humility constitutes moral pride, the meaning of which is to measure one’s strength against the unattainable.[3]

Humility -

subordination of a person to someone else's will.
A humble person as a quality of a person himself is voluntary submission, humility of oneself to someone’s will,” but he humbled himself, taking on the image of a slave, becoming like men and becoming in appearance like a man; He humbled
Himself, becoming obedient even to the point of death, even death on the cross.
(Phil.2:7,8).” To be humbled (pacified) by someone is a violent act against the will of a person or even an animal.” So pacified
, and they no longer began to go into the borders of Israel;
and the hand of the Lord was upon the Philistines all the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:13).” In Herodotus, the Persian Artabanus says to Xerxes: “You see that God strikes living beings of outstanding size and strength with lightning, trying to destroy them, but He does not notice the small ones. You see how He always strikes the tallest buildings and trees with His lightning: God loves to humble everything outstanding ” [4].
A humble person humbles himself out of fear of an animal, a humble person out of fear of God - out of love for Him.

Another benefit of humility is that it keeps us from boasting. This ensures we don't irritate others and avoid embarrassing ourselves if they aren't thrilled with our accomplishments. A humble person listens to advice and accepts instruction. “Instructive teachings are the way to life.” (Prov. 6:23) Proud people do not accept instruction; they think that they never do anything wrong. Humble people, on the other hand, know they make mistakes and are grateful for guidance. If we are clothed with humility, we will respect others.

Pride is the opposite of humility, and “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18) In conditions of intense competition for power or resources, in which everyone is guided by their own rather than common interests, there is a lack or lack of humility. In modern society, there is an opinion that boasting, ambition, the desire to stand out, to break through the career ladder by any means, allows one to achieve greater success in life than humility.

Berdyaev about humility: “Humility is the opening of the soul to reality... Considering yourself the most terrible sinner is the same conceit as considering yourself a saint... Humility is not the self-destruction of the human will, but enlightenment and free submission to its truth.”

From the point of view of situations and circumstances of life, as external reflections of the internal state of a person’s soul, humility is presented as a holistic perception of life. Humility is revealed in a person in the process of spiritual growth and going beyond one’s own ego, which actively controls the human soul and limits its manifestations through the creation of negative reactions as a way of self-defense, which shares the unified process of realizing life. From a point of view that divides the sense of human dignity into the dignity of the ego and the dignity of the divine principle in man, humility as a humiliation of the dignity of the ego-personality does not mean humiliation of the dignity of the divine principle, since it cannot be humiliated.

Excerpt describing Humility

Contrary to his habit of being late, Pierre that day, instead of eight minutes to ten minutes, arrived at the Bergs at eight minutes to a quarter. The Bergs, having stocked up what they needed for the evening, were already ready to receive guests. In a new, clean, bright office, decorated with busts and pictures and new furniture, Berg sat with his wife. Berg, in a brand new, buttoned uniform, sat next to his wife, explaining to her that it is always possible and should have acquaintances with people who are higher than oneself, because only then can there be a pleasure from making acquaintances. - “If you take something, you can ask for something. Look how I lived from the first ranks (Berg considered his life not as years, but as the highest awards). My comrades are now nothing yet, and I am in the vacancy of a regimental commander, I have the happiness of being your husband (he stood up and kissed Vera’s hand, but on the way to her he turned back the corner of the rolled-up carpet). And how did I acquire all this? The main thing is the ability to choose your acquaintances. It goes without saying that one must be virtuous and careful.” Berg smiled with the consciousness of his superiority over a weak woman and fell silent, thinking that after all this sweet wife of his was a weak woman who could not comprehend everything that constitutes the dignity of a man - ein Mann zu sein [to be a man]. Vera at the same time also smiled with the consciousness of her superiority over a virtuous, good husband, but who still erroneously, like all men, according to Vera’s concept, understood life. Berg, judging by his wife, considered all women weak and stupid. Vera, judging by her husband alone and spreading this remark, believed that all men attribute intelligence only to themselves, and at the same time they do not understand anything, are proud and selfish. Berg stood up and, hugging his wife carefully so as not to wrinkle the lace cape for which he had paid dearly, kissed her in the middle of her lips. “The only thing is that we don’t have children so soon,” he said, out of an unconscious filiation of ideas. “Yes,” Vera answered, “I don’t want that at all.” We must live for society. “This is exactly what Princess Yusupova was wearing,” said Berg, with a happy and kind smile, pointing to the cape. At this time, the arrival of Count Bezukhy was reported. Both spouses looked at each other with a smug smile, each taking credit for the honor of this visit. “This is what it means to be able to make acquaintances,” thought Berg, this is what it means to be able to hold oneself! “Just please, when I am entertaining guests,” said Vera, “don’t interrupt me, because I know what to do with everyone, and in what society what should be said.” Berg smiled too. “You can’t: sometimes you have to have a man’s conversation with men,” he said. Pierre was received in a brand new living room, in which it was impossible to sit anywhere without violating the symmetry, cleanliness and order, and therefore it was quite understandable and not strange that Berg generously offered to destroy the symmetry of an armchair or sofa for a dear guest, and apparently being in In this regard, in painful indecision, he proposed a solution to this issue to the choice of the guest. Pierre upset the symmetry by pulling up a chair for himself, and immediately Berg and Vera began the evening, interrupting each other and keeping the guest busy. Vera, having decided in her mind that Pierre should be occupied with a conversation about the French embassy, ​​immediately began this conversation. Berg, deciding that a man's conversation was also necessary, interrupted his wife's speech, touching on the question of the war with Austria and involuntarily jumped from the general conversation into personal considerations about the proposals that were made to him to participate in the Austrian campaign, and about the reasons why he didn't accept them. Despite the fact that the conversation was very awkward, and that Vera was angry for the interference of the male element, both spouses felt with pleasure that, despite the fact that there was only one guest, the evening had started very well, and that the evening was like two drops of water is like any other evening with conversations, tea and lit candles. Soon Boris, Berg's old friend, arrived. He treated Berg and Vera with a certain shade of superiority and patronage. The lady and the colonel came for Boris, then the general himself, then the Rostovs, and the evening was absolutely, undoubtedly, like all evenings. Berg and Vera could not hold back a joyful smile at the sight of this movement around the living room, at the sound of this incoherent talking, the rustling of dresses and bows. Everything was like everyone else, the general was especially similar, praising the apartment, patting Berg on the shoulder, and with paternal arbitrariness he ordered the setting up of the Boston table. The general sat down next to Count Ilya Andreich, as if he were the most distinguished of the guests after himself. Old people with old people, young people with young people, the hostess at the tea table, on which there were exactly the same cookies in a silver basket that the Panins had at the evening, everything was exactly the same as the others.

Humility (Humility)

Humility (humility) as a personality quality is the ability to overcome any manifestations of selfishness and pride, and to show indifference to honors.

Modesty, as the absence of desire for honor, is the sister of humility. She understands that humility is the mother of all virtues, the main quality of a holy person - and, therefore, modestly stands in its shadow. Modesty has excellent initial potential, but it can be angered, irritated, and driven out of temper. A humble person is a conqueror of anger. No one can anger him; he always conquers anger within himself, not giving the false Ego any chance to ignite. When a humble person is shouted something in anger, he does not get offended, but listens carefully and tries to understand whether there is some truth in it. Having found this piece of truth, he is even grateful to the angry man. People who are not humble perceive nothing in the words of another except anger itself and its square eyes.

Humility manifests itself in action. No matter how hard you try, a person’s actions highlight his pride and thereby speak of his lack of humility. The tendency to show pride is a lack of humility. A humble person considers himself not superior, but inferior to others. If he, in his opinion, behaves incorrectly, he immediately asks for forgiveness.

One may get the impression that humility does not respect itself. It's a delusion. She respects other people more than herself. But to respect another person, you need to know why. Humility respects its spiritual nature; it sees, unlike egoists, in other people that for which they can be respected and does not attach importance to that for which they cannot be respected. Humility by its nature cannot think about a person in a negative way; it will immediately be bitten by conscience. She will think: “Since I think badly of him, that means I consider myself better. If I think badly about people, then I am already bad. How can I consider myself good if I see flaws in people? Humility focuses on the merits of the individual because it respects one’s spiritual nature, that is, the desire to live not for oneself, but for the sake of other people. When a person realizes that he is not a body, but a soul, he cannot be disturbed by being treated with disrespect.

A huge positive role of humility is manifested in the ability to listen. This ability allows the individual to progress always and in everything. A person who does not have humility is not able to listen and is not able to mentally perceive and accept the incoming information that is so necessary for him for further growth. A humble person will listen carefully until he realizes that there is no new knowledge in the information. Not humble - refuses to listen in advance, he does not even want to start listening, so he is not able to understand whether there are new ideas and thoughts there or not. He shows stupidity, ignorance and lack of humility.

If you want to learn something, be humble. A student is a novice, that is, one who is able to listen. Those who are unable to become a novice in acquiring knowledge will remain ignorant. A fool differs from a smart person, first of all, by his reluctance to listen to anyone. As a child he is naughty, but in the adult world he is a fool. A disobedient child is imbued with selfishness, hence all the misfortunes. An intelligent person is obedient from childhood; there is little or no egoism in him, which is why he shows reasonableness.

Humility, living for others, becomes pleasant and desirable to others. When a person lives for the sake of others, what problems can he have? Problems arise for those who live only for themselves. He pulls the blanket over himself, but the outside world doesn’t like it, he begins to resist. An egoist has problems in his family, they try to put him in his place, remake him, break him, but he struggles with all his might with those around him. And when a wife or husband respects each other, lives for each other, how can you refuse them? Who would refuse happiness? Therefore, those families where there is no humility are unhappy.

Many, desiring honors, fame and fame, play at being humble, but those around them do not experience any happiness from their false postures. True humility does not desire honor, it does not demand respect from its children with frantic cries: “How can you talk to your mother like that?” Humility, while itself conscientiously fulfilling maternal responsibilities, simply wants the children to fulfill their responsibilities. Being a teacher, she does not want students to respect him as a teacher, but wants to make them smart and decent people. Not demanding respect and honor for yourself is humility.

Respect is worth a lot, it comes when another person sees humility in you. For example, a husband and wife argue over some everyday issue. In fact, two false Egos are arguing, which respect only themselves. Let’s say the husband gives in and says: “I agree with you, dear. You’re right about everything, I’m probably wrong.” At this moment, an amazing thing happens - the wife immediately develops a feeling of respect, trust and sympathy for her husband. By showing humility, a person receives a big plus of respect from children, husband, wife, students, and work colleagues.

Humility has nothing to do with cowardice, which yields to other people under pressure. For example, a cowardly teacher tells his students: “Do whatever you want, just be present in class.” How does the position of humility differ from cowardice? Humility conscientiously fulfills its duties, respects others and does not demand respect, praise and honor from them. In contrast to cowardice, she will tell her students: “I respect you, but I cannot allow idleness and laziness. My service to the people is to make you experts in my subject.” Such a teacher will be truly respected.

In humility there is no egoism, which prevents the transfer of true knowledge to students. Just as an inept cook will either over-salt and pepper the soup, or under-salt and forget about the pepper, an egoist will always dilute the knowledge he has received with his egoism, add, like a gossip, something of himself, and the knowledge spoiled by his selfish attempts will become false. In all higher educational institutions and schools, knowledge, especially in the humanities, should be taught only by humble people, otherwise they teach children and students the wrong things.

According to Dr. O. G. Torsunov, “true knowledge can only be obtained through the chain of discipleship.” A person can discover new knowledge through the heart, he can learn a lot without outside help, but he has the right to transfer knowledge to other people if the acquired knowledge is confirmed by the chain of discipleship. Knowledge distorted by egoism does not bring happiness.

Humility often saves a person in the most extreme situations. The criminal also needs to somehow justify himself to himself. Therefore, he provokes the victim to show hatred, fear, anger or contempt towards him. A humble person does not give a reason to kill himself, because he respects the criminal, there is no anger, condemnation, contempt, accusation or disdain in him. What is the interest in killing a person who respects you, sees only your merits and is not afraid of you? The bandit, trying to snatch condemning words from him or catch the fear in his eyes, shouts: “Say goodbye to life!” In life, it is very important to learn to come to terms with situations that you cannot change. “Bear with dignity what you cannot change,” said Seneca. A humble person says in response: “Fate wants me to die or stay alive, the main thing is that at the moment of death I must wish all people happiness and think about God.”

Humility believes in fate and therefore understands that if she is killed, she has nothing to lose. If, according to fate, his life is over, then he does not have it. You can only lose what you have. And if fate has destined for his life, act humbly as usual. A humble person, like a valiant warrior, does not feel hatred or contempt for the attacker. In a calm state of mind, out of a sense of duty, he actively defends himself, he can even beat the criminal, while feeling compassion for him. When a bandit confronts spiritual force, his strength rapidly melts away.

A valiant person “shines” with goodness, a humble person with peace. But let no one be mistaken who thinks that a humble person is an uncomplaining, cowardly, cowardly creature, hiding from life’s problems and regularly turning out one or the other cheek for a blow. A humble warrior is an excellent, disciplined soldier who deals with the enemy in cold blood. Emotions of hatred, anger, and revenge actually prevent a warrior from calmly and prudently conducting battle, showing prudence and ingenuity. A humble fighter respects the enemy and therefore does not show arrogant and rash actions that end in great blood. Humble soldiers often become heroes.

Humility is invincible, it cannot be overcome. F.M. Dostoevsky wrote: “Humble yourself, proud man... You will conquer yourself, and you will pacify yourself, and you will begin a great work, and you will make others free, and you will see happiness, for your life will be filled.”

Petr Kovalev 2013 Other articles by the author: https://www.podskazki.info/karta-statej/

Peace instead of pride and vanity

Humility is often confused with self-abasement for fear of falling into the sin of pride or vanity. There is a significant difference between them: a proud person does not place others in anything, does not at all recognize other people’s opinions and judgment on himself, but a vain person, on the contrary, everywhere seeks this very opinion and approval of others, on which he is entirely dependent. Humility is a state of amazing balance.

Metropolitan Anthony writes: “Humility (...) begins from the moment we enter into a state of inner peace: peace with God, peace with conscience and peace with those people whose judgment reflects God’s judgment; this is reconciliation. At the same time, this is reconciliation with all the circumstances of life, the state of a person who accepts everything that happens from the hand of God.”

Virtue of will and reason

Understanding humility as the triumph of lack of will, we make a huge mistake. After all, the goal of this, like any virtue, is to become like Christ, who, having the power to raise the dead, heal the blind and turn water into wine, went to a painful death to fulfill the will of the Father. “Humility is one of the most courageous gospel virtues, but we have managed to turn it into the pitiful quality of a slave,” complains Metropolitan Anthony.

After all, this is not passive “defeat” by circumstances, but active action in these very circumstances, internal work on oneself and an attempt to understand what and how I can do here and now to increase Christian love in the world. Therefore, in order to gain true, effective humility, which leads us to God, we need colossal efforts of the will and mind to understand ourselves and, in many ways, to conquer ourselves.

The Misconception of Humility

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In ordinary everyday conversations we are very unlikely to talk about humility. We don’t talk about it, we don’t talk about our desire for it, if there is one. We will not say this in order not to hear offensive words, reproaches and insults addressed to us.

If we are following the path of spiritual development and the word humility is very close and familiar to us, then keeping within ourselves our desire for it and our insights and small successes, so to speak, is the right action.

But I’m only saying that we won’t say this also because they won’t understand.

It is absolutely wrongly believed that humility is self-doubt, insignificance, acceptance of humiliation by other people, fear of others (how to get rid of it?), of actions, actions, lack of self-respect.

That is, a humble person seems to be such a wimp, a weakling who cannot stand up for himself and is afraid. They hit him, but he is silent.

In contrast to humility are contrasted such “necessary” and “useful” qualities as pride, the desire for wealth, fame, to rise above other people, to elevate one’s position in society. This is toughness, this is hardness.

Why do I think that success is not the most important thing?

All this has nothing to do with true humility, which makes a person better and much stronger.

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What is humility?

First, read the parable that very accurately describes true humility. It has already appeared on the pages of the site. Therefore, in order not to repeat yourself, read it here.

What is true humility?

Humility is the awareness of the greatness of God. Understanding yourself as a being created by God. All creatures, all living things, absolutely everything as God's creation.

Here I would like to point out that we most often hear the word humility from preachers of Christian religions, especially Orthodox ones. But this does not mean that only an Orthodox believer can be humble.

Humility is a spiritual strength for a person of any religion and tradition. But faith in God is obligatory and necessary.

Humility is spiritual strength

Because when we talk about humility, we always talk about humility before God, but not before man. This is so important - this is a big mistake in understanding the meaning of humility for many of us.

Seeing God in a person, we learn to forgive, understand and love. This is humility.

Humility is the acceptance of a person's shortcomings and pain.

This is life in accordance with what the spiritual that is in us desires. It is a life of love through mercy, compassion and respect for human virtues and acceptance of their shortcomings.

What does it mean to accept flaws?

This, for example, is not responding to an insult or anger directed at oneself. But not because we simply remained silent, were afraid and harbored a grudge - here everyone will see the weakness that humility is so colored with. This is weakness both in the sense that is familiar to understanding, and weakness from the point of view of the soul.

And not to answer because, firstly, you realize that the one shouting at you was created by God, just like you.

And secondly, you accept this cry as his pain, his suffering and silently forgive him this outburst of anger. You forgive and let go, without letting you inside yourself.