Real Bible humility is not a belittling of oneself, but an exalting or praising of others; especially God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ. A humble person focuses more on others than themselves. Biblical humility is an acknowledgment that by ourselves we are inadequate — without dignity and worthless. However, in Christ we have infinite worth and self-esteem. If you really knew who you were, you wouldn’t take the opportunity to bring down another. Bringing down others only proves that you are not very confident in what God has wrought in you. Someone once said that “You have to be little, to belittle and he who throws dirt looses ground.”

We need to look for the opportunities to esteem others better than ourselves. To esteem someone else means to have a high regard and respect of someone else. It is to value, prize, appreciate and admire someone other than yourself.

The book of Philippians really brings this to light:

Philippians 2:1-4 NKJV

{1} Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship (communion) of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

{2} fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

{3} Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

{4} Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

What an awesome command. The golden verse that I want to center this message on is Vs: 3. How are we to esteem others? — better than ourselves. Now, Holy Spirit would not direct us to do something that we don’t have the ability to do. We have the ability to esteem others better than ourselves. It is imperative that we drop a self-centered view of things and embrace a Christ-centered view. That is what Jesus did in His sacrifice for mankind. He had a high estimation of us, before He went to the Cross, and rose triumphant over death, hell and the grave.

Esteeming others better than ourselves, actually speaks more about us, than the other person. If we are doing this verse — it is a display of the attitude that we have toward ourselves. Our attitude towards our self, will find its expression in esteeming others better. Esteeming others better than ourselves is a clue that you love you
(Mark 12:30-31).

Esteeming others better, is the only way of knowing we have a healthy fellowship with God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ. If we don’t esteem others better, then chances are we really don’t have a high estimation of ourselves — nor do we have a vibrant fellowship with God the Father. Another way of esteeming others is also preferring one another.

Romans 12:9-10 The Message

{9-10} Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; practice playing second fiddle.

Most of us have heard the old saying that practice makes perfect. Well, there is no such thing as a perfect person; but there are many people in the Body of Christ, who are mature. One of the qualities that prepared them for maturation was the attitude and the practice of playing second fiddle. All too often, we are only looking out for numero uno. If that kind of mindset dominates our life — we will be disappointed. Deep inside we will be looking for, and desiring more — but it simply won’t come. Why? Because we have the cart before the horse so to speak. Esteeming others better, preferring one another and playing second fiddle is a sure way to achieve what we are looking for in life. In preferring our brother and sister before us, we are positioning our self for promotion.

Most of us want to be promoted and acknowledged for who we are as a person, yet the promotion cannot come our way until we have consistently practiced playing second fiddle. Another way of playing second fiddle is ridding yourself of any reputation. This is exactly what The Lord Jesus Christ did for us. It is His example that we are to follow. Christ esteemed us, so that we could have an awesome opinion of one another. Following His example is positioning us for promotion.

HOW ARE WE TO ESTEEM OTHERS? — BETTER THAN OURSELVES.

Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV

{5} Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

{6} who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

{7} but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.

{8} And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross.

{9} Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name,

{10} that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth,

{11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

What an awesome privilege and responsibility we have. Esteem others better — and you will never ever regret it. In fact, we are at our best when we are giving to others. For God so loved, that He Gave. He gave us His Best, so we could have the rest. Let’s Esteem Others Better. By preferring our brother and sister before us, we are positioning ourself for promotion. -AWM

Copyright (C) Anthony N. Wade Ministries 2010 ~ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No portion of this publication may be rewritten or reproduced without the written approval of the author.