Cultivating Humility in Communication and Storytelling
Cultivating Humility in Communication and Storytelling
Humility is a vital virtue in Christian communication and storytelling, as it allows individuals to learn from others, avoid pride, and promote unity. The biblical wisdom literature emphasizes the importance of humility, with Proverbs 18:12 stating that "haughtiness cultivates pride" and leads to failure, while humility "learns from others and leads to the honor of success" [1]. Similarly, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi) interprets Proverbs 15:33 as saying that "humility causes honor to come" [2].
In the New Testament, humility is linked to the Christian character, with the apostle Paul exhorting believers to demonstrate humility in their interactions with others (Titus 3:3) [3]. The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, highlights the importance of humility in relationships within the church, with younger believers being encouraged to submit to their elders and demonstrate reverence for their persons (1 Peter 5:5) [4].
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as seen in John Gill's commentary on Titus 2:5, also emphasizes the need for young men to be "sober-minded," characterized by temperance, modesty, and prudence in all things [5]. In a similar vein, the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, represented by Adam Clarke, notes that humility is essential in public assemblies, where individuals should avoid taking the highest place when it is not their due, as well as obstinately refusing it when offered, as both actions can be seen as instances of public vanity [6].
The apostle Paul's exhortation to the Ephesian believers to walk in "lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2) further underscores the importance of humility in Christian relationships [7]. By cultivating humility, believers can promote unity, avoid pride, and demonstrate the love of Christ to others.
The practice of humility in communication and storytelling involves being mindful of one's own limitations and biases, as well as being open to learning from others. As seen in the various Christian traditions represented, humility is a vital component of effective and loving communication, allowing believers to build each other up and promote the unity of the church.
Sources
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 18:12: 18:12 Haughtiness cultivates pride. It leads to failure because it does not allow for change in the face of criticism. Humility learns from others and leads to the honor of success.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Proverbs 15:33: and before honor there is humility Humility causes honor to come.”
- Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:3: 3:3 Humility (3:2) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4; see Eph 2:1-4; 5:8; Col 3:7; 1 Pet 4:3).”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 5:5: Having settled and explained the duty of the pastors or spiritual guides of the church, the apostle comes now to instruct the flock, I. How to behave themselves to their ministers and to one another. He calls them the younger, as being generally younger than their grave pastors, and to put them in mind of their inferiority, the term younger being used by our Saviour to signify an inferior, Luk 22:26. He exhorts those that are younger and inferior to submit themselves to the elder, to give due respect and reverence to their persons, and to yield to their admonition”
- Titus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Titus 2:5: Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. Temperate, chaste, modest, moderate, wise, and prudent in all things: this is said to Titus, as being his province to instruct and exhort the young men; as it were proper and convenient for aged women to teach the young women how they should behave and conduct themselves. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. Temperate, chaste, modest, moderate, wise, and prudent in all things: this is said to Titus, as being his province to instruct and exhort the young men; as it were proper and convenient for aged women to teach ”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 14:7: They chose out the chief rooms - When custom and law have regulated and settled places in public assemblies, a man who is obliged to attend may take the place which belongs to him, without injury to himself or to others: when nothing of this nature is settled, the law of humility, and the love of order, are the only judges of what is proper. To take the highest place when it is not our due is public vanity: obstinately to refuse it when offered is another instance of the same vice; though private and concealed. Humility takes as much care to avoid the ostentation of a”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 4:2: Here the apostle proceeds to more particular exhortations. Two he enlarges upon in this chapter: - To unity an love, purity and holiness, which Christians should very much study. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin. This section contains the exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of h”