My Dear Shepherds,

It’s the humility part that’s such a pain. Most of the time we like serving our congregation. We’re grateful for our calling. It doesn’t always even require that much humility. Truth is, sometimes our work is even an ego booster.

But pastors live in the center of a congregation’s fellowship so sooner or later those relationships will demand humility, the kind that doesn’t come naturally to any of us, the kind that can just about kill us. So, Paul made clear what’s expected of us all:

… in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who … humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:3-5, 8)

I picture Jesus’ descent on slippery, steep, stone stairs dropping down from the bright glories of heaven, each treacherous step taking him lower, requiring more, and leaving him poorer and weaker, till he endures the unfathomable disgrace of the Cross and the ultimate humiliation of death itself. All of it—every step—was Jesus’ conscious act of humble obedience to his Father.

There is only one good thing that humans can do that Almighty God cannot: obey. But obeying God does not come naturally to any human being, not even Jesus.

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him … (Heb. 5:8-9)

Obedience can only be proven under pressure when a person must choose to do what they most earnestly do not want to do. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” The heart of obedience is God-fearing humility. Jesus “was heard because of his reverent submission.”

Philippians 2 commands us, “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,” which means we have to descend our own dark staircase to serve Jesus and his people. We need not be at the beck and call of everyone in our church, but we do need to submit obediently and humbly to God when he requires us to serve them, to wash their feet, even to be treated as slaves.

The people we serve are not usually cantankerous but they are needy and their needs require our basin and towel. Most pastors I know say that they’re tired; always tired. Serving people for Jesus’ sake empties us. So, in order to find the humility and capacity to serve as God requires, don’t dig deeper within yourself. You’ll come up empty.

Look to Jesus’ example in passages like this, drawing on the Holy Spirit to enable us to be like the Lord.

Look also to the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. Jesus’ Spirit, the Comforter , “comes alongside us” as we kneel in our own Gethsemane.

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are … comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. (2 Cor. 1:5-6)

Finally, to find the humility we need to trust and obey God in our seasons of demanding service, remember that our weakness is a distinct advantage. The Lord himself told Paul,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:9)

And so with that …

Be ye glad!

Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today.