A little humility can turn a frown into a smile; a lot of humility can turn an enemy into a friend. The Bible teaches these truths. Paul wrote of Jesus, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). What happened at the cross? Enemies were made friends. “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). Jesus is our example; so, how can we do what He did in our lives?
Humility does not react. A lot of times the first thing we want to do with negative people is react to them with our own negativity. This doesn’t help the situation. It just creates a downward spiral of resentment on both parties, and unproductive arguments ensue. Instead of reacting, be proactive by putting your own concerns on the back burner for a few minutes and listening actively to the other party. Listening is the humble thing to do (James 1:19).
Humility does not self-justify. When we are accused of wrongdoing, we want to defend ourselves and prove our righteousness. This leads to dissension. We must remember that it is God who justifies (makes us righteous), not us (Romans 8:33). What does this mean? It means that we don’t have to explain ourselves to unjust accusers. Instead of self-justifying, try asking pertinent questions such as: “Why do you feel like this?”, and “How can I help you resolve this situation?” These questions don’t implicate but help to calm. Remember, “blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). Humility seeks peace.