I’d like to be your helper, Lord, Befriending one and all.
I’d like to be your servant, Lord,
Assisting those who fall.
I’d like to be your slave, Lord,
Loving stranger, friend, and foe,
But I’m happy to be nothing, Lord –
The lowest of the low.
I am nothing (Job 40:4; NLT).
You will be brought low; from the earth you will speak, and from the dust where you are prostrate your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, and your speech will whisper from the dust
(Isaiah 294; NASB 1995).
I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people
(Ephesians 3:8; NIV).
Who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us
(1 Chronicles 29:14; NLT).
Who am I, to search for you, Lord?
Who am I, to ask for grace?
Who am I, to beg your mercy?
Who am I, to seek your face?
Who am I, to hear your whisper?
Who am I, to praise your name?
Who am I, to live within you?
Who am I, to share your pain?
Who am I, that you forgive me?
Who am I, that you should hear?
Who am I, that you protect me?
Who am I, that you are near?
Who am I, that you should love me?
Who am I, that you should save?
Lord, I’m your unworthy servant;
Nothing, but your lowest slave.
The Bible tells us that God wants us to grow in humility. Mother Theresa of Calcutta, who is now a Saint, saw the process of learning to become more humble as a set of specific, concrete measures we can practice every day.
Her advice is easy to understand, but much harder to follow. Over time, though, by embracing her approach and making it our own, we can gradually learn to respond to people and events with greater acceptance and humility.
I first posted these teachings as a series of daily quotations on Twitter and Facebook. When that project was complete, I decided to draw them together, and make them available here.
Each quotation is followed by an illustrative verse from the Bible or few words of clarification. I hope very much that you will find Mother Theresa’s clear, practical advice as helpful as I do.
✚
1. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters:
You must all be quick to listen
[and] slow to speak
(James 1:19; NLT).
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2. Aspire to live quietly,
to mind your own affairs,
and to work with your own hands
(1 Thessalonians 4:10; RSV).
✚
3. You should mind your own business
(1 Thessalonians 4:11; NIV).
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4. They have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things
(2 Timothy 4:3; NET).
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5. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults
because of your love
(Ephesians 4:2; NLT).
✚
6. Whoever learns from correction is wise (Proverbs 15:5; NLT).
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7. How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’
when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck
from your brother’s eye
(Matthew 7:4-5; NIV).
✚
8. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT).
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9. He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word
(Isaiah 53:7; NLT).
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1o. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
yet he never said a word
(Isaiah 53:7; NLT).
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11. The wisdom from above is first of all pure.
It is also peace-loving,
gentle at all times,
and willing to yield to others
(James 3:17; NLT).
NB: This doesn’t mean letting people walk all over you. It means letting others choose, and gladly going along with their choice, rather than insisting on having your own way.
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12. He was despised and we did not care
(Isaiah 53:3; NLT).
✚
13. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way
(Isaiah 53:3; NLT).
✚
14. A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare (Proverbs 15:1; NLT).
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15. They brag loudly about themselves (Jude 1:16; NLT).
Don’t do your good deeds publicly,
to be admired by others
(Matthew 6:1; NLT).
✚
16. Whoever wants to be first among you
must be the slave of all
(Mark 10:44; NET).
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17. Do not be wise in your own opinion
(Romans 12:16; NKJV).
✚
18. Even the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve others,
and to give his life as a ransom for many
(Matthew 20:28; NLT).
✚
Reference
All the quotations used here can be found by doing a Google search for: “Mother Theresa humility list”. I am very grateful to Mother for putting her advice list together, and to all those who circulate various versions of it online.
I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals
(Mark 1:7; NASB).
1. You love me, Lord,
Though I’m not fit
For anything but blame;
And talk with me,
Though I’m not fit
To speak your sacred name.
2. You comfort me,
Though I’m not fit
To call on you in prayer;
And ransom me,
Though I’m not fit
To warrant all your care.
3. You treasure me,
Though I’m not fit
To be your humble slave;
And cherish me,
Though I’m not fit
To rescue from the grave.
4. You shelter me,
Though I’m not fit
To contemplate your grace;
And smile on me,
Though I’m not fit
To gaze upon your face.
I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant (Genesis 32:10; NLT).
💙
References
1. I’m just a worm, less than human (Psalm 22:6; CEB).
We dare not mention the name of the Lord (Amos 6:10; NKJV).
2. I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord (Genesis 18:27; NKJV).
Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son (Luke 15:21; NLT).
3. I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals (Luke 3:16; NLT).
You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death (Psalm 30:3; NLT).
Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life (Job 33:24; NLT).
4. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by (Exodus 33:22; NKJV).
Lord, do not trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honour (Luke 7:6; NLT).
Righteousness smiles down from heaven (Psalm 85:11; NLT).
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart
(Matthew 11:9; NLT).
1. Please guide me
On your gentle way,
In all I think, and say, and do.
Then I will gladly serve all those
Whose lives I touch, Lord,
Just like you,
2. Please lead me
On your humble way,
And let me share your heart and mind.
Then I will gladly love all those
I meet, Lord,
And all humankind.
3. Please keep me
On your narrow way,
Although its comforts may be few.
Then I will gladly be the slave
Of everyone, Lord,
Just like you.
References
1. Be gentle to all (2 Timothy 2:24; NKJV).
We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).
I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say (Psalm 39:1; NLT).
Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35; NIV).
Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others (Mark 10:45; NLT).
2. Strive to be humble (Zephaniah 2:3; NET).
Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble (Zechariah 9:9; NLT).
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).
The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NLT).
3. The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life (Matthew 7:14; NASB).
Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9:58; NKJV).
Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else (Mark 10:44; NLT).
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8; NLT).
1. Like a holy angel,
Like a child of God,
Jesus, may I follow you
Along the path you trod.
2. Like a faithful servant,
Like a humble slave,
Jesus, may I follow you,
And share the price you paid.
3. Like a good disciple,
Like a loyal friend,
Jesus, may I follow you
Until life’s bitter end.
References
1. Angels came and took care of Jesus (Matthew 4:11; NLT).
To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12; NLT).
“Come, follow me” Jesus said (Matthew 4:19; NIV).
Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:14; NIV).
2. Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities (Matthew 25:21; NLT).
Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else (Mark 10:44; NLT).
If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
3. Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NIV).
A friend is always loyal (Proverbs 17:17; NLT).
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).
Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching (Luke 23:49; NLT).
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46; NIV).
When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:50; NIV).
And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was (Matthew 2:9; NLT).
1. One star, so bright;
One birth, one light.
2. One Son, so dear;
One truth, so clear.
3. One path, so short;
One gospel taught.
4. One Man, so brave;
One Lord, our slave.
5. One night, so dark;
One fear, so stark.
6. One hope, so small;
One cup of gall.
7. One life, so hard;
One flesh, so scarred.
8. One cross, so high;
One final cry.
9. One tomb, so cold;
One flash of gold!
10. One God, so good;
One path of love.
Image: Viola, Pixabay
References
1. While they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling-cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:6-7; RSV).
I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).
2. This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him (Mark 9:7; NLT).
3. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6; NLT).
4. Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else (Mark 10:44; NLT).
5. Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).
6. If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).
7. The gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life (Matthew 7:14; RSV).
He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip (Mark 15:15; NLT).
8. Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; NIV).
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NKJV).
9. He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock (Luke 23:53; NLT).
Very early on the Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes (Luke 24:1-4; NLT).
10. The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4; NASB).
Only God is truly good (Luke 18:19; NLT).
Follow the way of love (1 Corinthians 14:1; NIV).
Love is the fulfilment of the law (Romans 13:10; NIV).
1. God speaks to us
But we don’t hear:
With him, there’s neither Hate, nor fear.
2. God cares for us
Although we fight:
With him, there’s neither Black, nor white.
3. God aches for us,
And hears each plea:
With him, there’s neither
Slave, nor free.
4. God longs for us
To change, and trust:
With him, there’s neither Them, nor us.
5. God treasures us,
And this is key:
With him, there’s neither He, nor she.
6. God offers us
His much-loved Son: With him, all humankind Isone.
References
1. God speaks again and again, though people do not recognise it (Job 33:14; NLT).
No one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain (Isaiah 65:25; NLT).
Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18; NIV).
2. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows (Psalm 146:9; NLT).
Do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39; NLT).
3. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
He hears their cries for help and rescues them (Psalm 145:19; NLT).
There is neither slave nor free (Galatians 3:28; NKJV).
4. The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).
Repent and turn to me again (Revelation 3:3; NLT).
Trust in God (John 14:1; NLT).
5. He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
There is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28; NKJV).
6. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; NLT).
This is my beloved Son (Luke 9:35; NKJV).
You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).
Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6:27-8; NLT).
