BACKSTAGE | JIMMY DODD
Seeking Humility
The Roman Triumph was a tradition that endured for more than 1,000 years. Beginning in the eighth century BC with Romulus, on the day of his triumph, the emperor/triumphant general would wear a purple crown and a gold-embroidered toga that identified him as just a notch below divinity. He would ride in an ornate four-horse chariot through the streets of Rome where he would be applauded and celebrated by the citizens of Rome. The Roman Triumph was far from an exercise in humility.
During the Roman Triumph, a slave would stand behind the victorious general in his chariot and whisper into his ear, “Respice post te! Hominem te esse memento! Memento mori!” Translated, this means, “Look behind you! Remember that you are but a man! Remember that you will die!”
Taking this one step further, Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 AD, had a servant follow him around, and every time he received a compliment the servant would whisper, “You’re just a man.” This was a humbling reminder of his mortality and the need to guard against pride. It was a sobering reminder that even the greatest triumphs, accolades and earthly achievements would eventually end.
Biblical synonyms for pride include conceit, superiority, insolence, arrogance, boasting, contempt, wrongdoing and self-centeredness. Practically, pride can be defined as taking credit for what God is doing, being self-congratulatory in accomplishments, as well as feeding an insatiable desire for approval.
Proverbs 16:18 tells us that pride goes before destruction. Pride brings conflict, deception and a false sense of self-confidence. It is self-seeking, self-reliant, self-absorbed, self-interested and self-exalting. Pride justifies oneself, admires oneself, promotes oneself, and approves of oneself.
Pride is a gradual slide into the pit of self-sufficiency (I don’t need you), self-confidence (I know I don’t need you), and self-assuredness (I feel good about knowing that I don’t need you). A prideful leader will resist anyone asking challenging questions. They fail to submit themselves to any authority. They convince themselves that no one can lead at the level in which they lead. They never make mistakes and certainly never admit when they are in the wrong. Arrogant leaders are threatened by anyone possessing gifts surpassing their own. They long to hear their name praised and their accomplishments recounted.
The Lord calls leaders to live life in humility, showing respect, deference, empathy and gratitude toward others, putting others’ needs before their own. Leaders humbly accept criticism and acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of others allowing them to be where they are today. Leaders know there has never been a greater act of humility than Jesus stooping to wash the feet of the disciples (John 13:12-15).
You may be no conquering emperor. You likely don’t have servants. But every leader needs friends who will faithfully and lovingly remind them that they too are a broken sinner, desperately and daily in need of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. You’re just a man (or a woman). To battle pride, a helpful daily habit is to pray the words of John the Baptist as found in John 1:20 when he confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Jimmy Dodd is an author and founder of PastorServe. He serves a number of additional ministries including Cross International and Unite KC.