Humility

The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." - John 7:47-52

Humility is an essential but often overlooked trait of leadership. Author Jim Collins said, "The x-factor of great leadership is not personality, it's humility." In contrast, the religious leaders in today's text displayed the opposite, and they were arrogant in their understanding of Scripture and their current situation. They were not willing to listen or learn.

Dear Church, in any situation, let us take the posture of humility, always willing to listen and learn. The late basketball coach John Wooden said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:3-8