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Practicing Humility and Empathy in Biblical Counseling

Humility and empathy are foundational virtues in biblical counseling, reflecting the character of Christ and enabling effective ministry to others. Humility, in a biblical sense, is a state of mind pleasing to God, preserving tranquility and fostering patience under trials [2]. It is considered necessary for serving God [1].

The Bible presents Christ as the ultimate example of humility. He declared, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29) [7]. His humility was demonstrated in His incarnation, taking on human nature, His humble birth, subjection to His parents, and His willingness to serve others, even washing His disciples' feet [6]. This example is a call for believers to be like Christ in their interactions [14]. Humility is also a characteristic of saints, regarded and heard by God, and those who possess it are promised deliverance, exaltation, and greater grace [1]. Proverbs 15:33 states that "humility comes before honor" [1].

Empathy, closely related to compassion and sympathy, is also deeply rooted in Christ's ministry. The author of Hebrews notes that Christ is "able to be gentle to those ignorant and going astray, since himself also is compassed with infirmity" (Hebrews 5:2 YLT) [3]. This capacity for understanding human weakness makes Him a compassionate High Priest [4]. Because Christ experienced temptation and infirmity, He can sympathize with believers in their struggles, offering a motive for them to hold fast to their profession [10]. This understanding allows believers to approach God's "throne of grace" with confidence, expecting to "obtain mercy" and "find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16) [13]. Christ's compassion was evident in His interactions with the weary, the weak in faith, the tempted, the afflicted, the diseased, the poor, and perishing sinners [4]. The Psalms also highlight God's empathy, stating, "But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless" (Psalms 10:14) [8].

In the context of biblical counseling, humility means recognizing one's own limitations and dependence on God, rather than relying on personal wisdom or strength [2]. It involves a sincere approach, as Christ was an example of sincerity, and ministers should follow suit [5]. This sincerity should characterize one's love for God and others, and one's entire conduct [5]. Humility is fitting, especially when considering humanity's state before God's kindness and love intervened [11].

Empathy in counseling involves a genuine understanding and sharing of the counselee's experiences, without judgment. It means being "gentle to those ignorant and going astray" [3]. This is not merely a superficial understanding but a deep identification with their struggles, much like Christ's identification with humanity [10]. The concept of "sweet counsel" in friendship, as described by John Gill on Psalm 55:13, highlights the mutual delight and understanding that can exist in a supportive relationship, even if the context there is not strictly religious [9]. Hospitality, which involves entertaining those in need "without grudging" and with "open-hearted sincerity," also reflects this empathetic spirit [12].

Both humility and empathy are essential for a counselor to effectively guide and support others, mirroring the compassionate and humble example of Christ [14].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
  3. Hebrews “Hebrews 5:2 (YLT) — able to be gentle to those ignorant and going astray, since himself also is compassed with infirmity;”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
  7. Matthew “Matthew 11:29 (BSB) — Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
  8. Psalms “But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. -- Psalms 10:14”
  9. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 55:13: We took sweet counsel together,.... Not in religious matters; for in these the testimonies of the Lord were David's counsellors, Psa 119:24; but in civil things: hearty counsel is one branch of friendship, and which greatly sweetens it, Pro 27:9; as this may be applied to Christ and Judas, it may denote the mutual delight and pleasure they had, the one in communicating, the other in receiving a notional knowledge of the Gospel, and the mysteries of it, which are the counsel of God, Act 20:27; for if hearers may hear the word gladly, as Herod did, and receive it with ”
  10. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:15: For--the motive to "holding our profession" (Heb 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (Heb 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mat 26:38, "watch with me": showing His desire in the days of His flesh for the sympathy of those whom H”
  11. 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).”
  12. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 4:9: (Rom 12:13; Heb 13:2.) Not the spurious hospitality which passes current in the world, but the entertaining of those needing it, especially those exiled for the faith, as the representatives of Christ, and all hospitality to whomsoever exercised from genuine Christian love. without grudging--Greek, "murmuring." "He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity," that is open-hearted sincerity; with cordiality. Not secretly speaking against the person whom we entertain, or upbraiding him with the favor we have conferred in him.”
  13. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:16: come--rather as Greek, "approach," "draw near." boldly--Greek, "with confidence," or "freedom of speech" (Eph 6:19). the throne of grace--God's throne is become to us a throne of grace through the mediation of our High Priest at God's right hand (Heb 8:1; Heb 12:2). Pleading our High Priest Jesus' meritorious death, we shall always find God on a throne of grace. Contrast Job's complaint (Job 23:3-8) and Elihu's " IF," &c. (Job 33:23-28). obtain--rather, "receive." mercy--"Compassion," by its derivation (literally, fellow feeling from community”
  14. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:2: 4:2 humble . . . gentle . . . patient: Believers are to be like Christ in how they treat others (see Col 3:12-14; cp. Gal 6:2).”
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