In 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary climbed to the summit of Mount Everest, the first man ever to do so. Hillary got all the press, but critical to his ascent was one of Sir Edmund’s climbing companions, Tenzig Norgay.

No one ever mentions Norgay’s name, yet on the way back down the mountain, Hillary fell and would have been killed if Tenzig Norgay had not pulled him back up by cable and saved his life. Hillary lived to tell a great story due to the help of an unknown man. When someone asked Norgay why he did not brag about it, he replied, “We mountain climbers help each other.”

Have you helped someone else along life’s journey that ended up outshining you? Remember that fame and success are not the name of the game in God’s Kingdom. Jesus said, “Whoever would be first should be the servant of all.” Who will you help today?

Tags: climb, humility, mountain, serve

Winston Lord, American diplomat, served as US Ambassador to the Republic of China from 1985-1989, and told about the time he and his wife, Bette, were driving outside Beijing. “We came to a Buddhist temple, and the head monk came out and greeted us. His eyes lit up when he heard that I was the ambassador and that my wife was a famous author. The monk said, ‘Would you do this temple a great honor and favor for our future visitors, to guide and instruct them? Would you write something in English’?”

Winston felt honored to be asked to do such a thing. “He then handed me two wooden plaques and said, ‘Would you write in English on this plaque the word Ladies and on this plaque the word Gentlemen‘?”

Sometimes it pays to stay humble. Could it be that what you think is an honor is not really what you think?

Tags: China, humility, humor, Winston Lord

A young man hired by a supermarket reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.”

“But I’m a college graduate,” the young man replied indignantly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” said the manager. “Here, give me the broom – I’ll show you how.”

We all have to start at the bottom and work our way up, proving ourselves to our overseers every step of the way. What was your experience at starting a new job?

Tags: humility, humor, test

Members of the upper level Brahman class in India never stoop to do any menial labor. So how shocked Shriman Naraarayan was when, spending time at Gandhi’s ashram (a spiritual retreat center for Hindus), he was assigned a task that he felt was beneath his dignity.

Having earned a doctorate from the London School of Economics, that young man had come to the ashram to seek guidance about his future. Unknown to him, everybody at the ashram was given some specific assignment, and Shriman’s was to clean toilets. Deeply offended, he went to Ghandi immediately and complained, “I hold a doctorate. I’m capable of doing great things. Why do you waste my time and talents on cleaning toilets?”

Gandhi responded, “I know of your capacity to do great things, but I have yet to discover your capacity to do little things.”

You may be highly qualified to serve our Lord Jesus in a significant way. Because of your training and gifts, you may have the potential to carry on great and effective spiritual service. But are you willing to humbly perform some menial task if He so assigns you? Would you be willing to clean another’s toilet or wash another’s feet? (John 13:14-15). That’s what discipleship is all about.

Tags: discipleship, Gandhi, humility, little, service

This is a true story. A college student named Bill was a new Christian. One Sunday he visited a church near campus. He walked in barefoot and was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The service had already started, so he walked down the aisle looking for a seat. Finding none, he sat down cross-legged on the floor – right in front of the pulpit!

The congregation became noticeably uneasy. Then, from the back of the church, an elderly deacon got up and with his cane slowly made his way to the front. Every eye followed him. As the old gentleman approached Bill, he dropped his cane and with great effort lowered himself and sat down beside him so the young man wouldn’t have to worship alone.

Paul wrote that Christ, being equal with God, set aside His reputation, and became obedient unto death – the ultimate act of humility. When we learn to think as Jesus thought, we see people through the same eyes as that godly deacon.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

Tags: hippie, humility, service

We’re talking about humility this week. Author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada said it well: “We grab for humility and – poof – it disappears like stardust through our fingers.”

So how can we know when we are truly humble? We can’t. But when serving others becomes second nature to us, we are pursuing the ideal that Jesus set for us in Matthew 23. After pointing out that the scribes and Pharisees were always seeking power and position, He said, “He who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 12).

Senator Mark Hatfield exemplified the spirit of service Jesus advocated. He attended a weekly Bible study at his church in Washington, DC, along with other politicians and professionals. As soon as the meetings ended, most rushed off to their jobs. But Senator Hatfield usually stayed to stack chairs – and he was the highest ranking official there!

Serving others; that’s what true humility is all about.

Tags: humility, Mark Hatfield, service