Legacy Part II–Humble And Kind!

June 6, 2024

Legacy Part II—Humble And Kind!

There are a few things that I pray Jesus uses me to leave in the lives of other people.  This post is the second in which I focus upon a few things I would like to leave behind in the lives of other people.  I begin with some words a friend shared with me a couple of years ago. 

“Your legacy is the kind of people you leave behind.” 

That statement is difficult to believe when you are focused on the pain of your past, the fresh wounds of yesterday, or the fear of what might happen tomorrow.  As your focus becomes more and more on you, there is less and less time and energy and strength to make a lasting difference in the lives of other people.

Several years ago, I was betrayed by a friend, under attack by church people, and questioning my future.  It was difficult to trust, my days were infiltrated by fear, and my confidence was very low.  It was a difficult season in which I did not have much desire or ability to focus on life transformation in other people.

I remember the words of encouragement a colleague offered while I sat defeated in our living room.  I remember the tenderness and love my wife shared as I came home each day beat up and beat down.  I remember the support of a few friends who listened and loved when that was probably not very easy.

As I came out of that season, I was aware Jesus had taught me some important lessons.  When life is going well or when our soul is deeply troubled, it is important to nurture a humble heart and to offer kindness to every person.

Jesus says it plainly in Matthew 18:4; “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Living with a humble and kind heart is the life Jesus wants for you and me…and for those who follow after us!

I want to leave a legacy of people who are humble and kind.

When the Lord God was looking for the right person to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt to a new and promising life, He looks for someone with a humble heart.  In Numbers 12:3 we hear; “Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth.”

The Lord God knew that there were many things for which the Israelite people might look in a new leader.  However, the Lord God chooses a leader with a very humble and kind heart.  The Lord chooses Moses. 

In the end, I will follow that kind of leader much further through adversities and challenges than I will follow someone who only possesses a lot of charisma, a great personality, and impressive status or is a great strategist, very popular, and quite strong.  A person who possesses a humble and kind heart will care as much for the people they are leading as they do about the ultimate goal.

The Lord God cares about people with a humble and kind heart.  The Bible reminds us of the Lord’s perspective on our heart condition.  In II Samuel 22:28 we recall; “You (Lord God) deliver a humble people, but your eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down.” 

In James 4:10 we hear the same promise; “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” And again in Psalm 149:4 we hear the promise; “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.” 

When we nurture a humble and kind heart, the Lord God will bring deliverance and victory to us and to others.  The Lord God chose Moses to lead His people out of oppression, desperation, and a faltering faith because Moses possessed a humble and kind heart.

Nurturing a humble and kind heart is also what Jesus modeled and taught in His life.  In Matthew 11:29 Jesus says; “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” 

Jesus wants us to follow His example in nurturing a gentle and humble heart.  In Philippians 2:8 Paul tells us that Jesus “…humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”  The cross becomes a symbol of a Savior who humbles Himself for the sake (and salvation!) of other people. 

Centuries before Jesus humbled himself on the cross, the Psalmist reminds us of the kindness of the Lord God.  In Psalm 145:17 we hear; “The Lord is just in all his ways and kind in all his doings.”

Jesus possesses a humble and kind heart and wants you and me to grow a heart that is humble and kind like His.  I want to leave a legacy of people who are humble and kind.  You and I can leave this kind of legacy in other people. 

“Your legacy is the kind of people you leave behind.” 

We learn how to nurture a humble and kind heart by reading the Bible, engaging in prayer, and listening for Jesus to speak to our heart.  Here are a few more Bible verses that remind us of the importance of nurturing a humble and kind heart.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”  (Ephesians 4:32)  I can only forgive when I have a humble heart.

“Those who despise their neighbors are sinners, but happy are those who are kind to the poor.”  (Proverbs 14:21)  Real joy comes when we are kind to those who cannot repay us.

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant…”  (I Corinthians 13:4)  Love is defined as being kind while the last three words describe some things that are the opposite of a humble heart.

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness…”  (Galatians 5:22)  When the Holy Spirit resides in us, kindness will flow through our words and actions.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12)  When we live as children of God, our lives will be filled with kindness and humility.

“Your legacy is the kind of people you leave behind.” 

Knowing we are called to nurture a humble and kind heart like Jesus’ is much easier than actually growing and maintaining a humble and kind heart. 

+Too many people telling us how good we are and soon our humble heart is compromised by pride. 

+Too many missed opportunities to show kindness to those in need and our kind heart is diminished by hardness.

+Too many dreams that do not require the help of other people and our humble heart is traded for self-sufficiency.

+Too many accolades for doing an act of kindness and our kind heart is swapped for the affirmation of others.

+Too many “wins” without any “defeats” and our humble heart is exchanged for arrogance.

+Too many times when we look to our strength or our wisdom and soon our humble and kind heart is substituted for a small faith in God’s provision and protection.

Growing a humble and kind heart like the heart of Jesus will be met with challenges and ultimately with some failures.  Our “bent to sinning” (Charles Wesley, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” 1747) and our reliance on self will distract us from the continual work of growing a humble and kind heart.

We need a humble and kind heart so we can encourage and help one another grow a heart more and more like the heart of Jesus.  When we help one another, our heart will become more humble and kind even as the person we are helping grows a heart that is both humble and kind.

“Your legacy is the kind of people you leave behind.” 

As the Holy Spirit does this work of transformation in us, our hearts and our lives will be filled with delight in the Lord.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug