Humility.

The apostle John records an interesting incident in his record of the Gospel. Referring to the Lord Jesus, on the night on which He was betrayed, John writes: He "rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel. Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:4-5)

The Greek word usually translated "humility" occurs seven times in the New Testament, implying self-abasement and suggesting a meekness of spirit. In Greek literature however, it was used to describe a slave’s demeaning of himself before his master ‒ an outward prostration, rather than an inward character trait.

The idea that a master would set aside his status and voluntarily become a slave was probably incomprehensible to the world of Jesus’ day. Yet, we are instructed to “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, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8; emphasis added). He defined humility by His actions, as He did during that Last Supper with His disciples, So now we, if we claim to belong to Him, are to voluntarily take up His attitude and “... to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

Christian humility arguably surpasses all other virtues. Expressing itself as more than acting in a humble fashion, it consists of an inward habit of self-abasement, showing consideration to all others.

This characteristic, in God’s eyes, is seen as one of great value. “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for « God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. » Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:5-6; emphases added).