Humility

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1Cor. 1:27-29)

There is one attribute which defines the value of an artist more than any other attribute, and that is humility.  If you wish to be an artist of any consequence then what you need is humility, and you will never in this life acquire too much of it.

But the importance of humility does not fully resonate until it's essence is explored, because mankind has such a skewed notion of the term.  To begin with, I'll clarify what humility is not.  Humility has nothing to do with a human seeing himself as lesser than another human.  This is the chief error.  Saying that you are not very skilled at such and such a task does not make you humble.  Secondly, humility has little or nothing to do with our sinful state.  Then again, maybe all of that is a form of humility, but only the humanistic definition of humility.  When I am referring to humility, I am talking about Biblical humility, which is explained exquisitely in the passage below:

Do nothing from rivalry 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. (Phil 2: 3-4)

Now you are probably thinking "What is he talking about?  He just presented a verse that contradicts with everything he’s saying!"  Not so.  I am not saying that you should not consider others as more significant than yourself.  In fact, such a course of action is foundational in most everything I'm going to be talking about.  The following passage helps explain how humility is about considering others as more significant than yourself and yet not about belittling yourself in comparison to 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 made himself nothing, 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. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Phil 2:5-11)

Now here's the question: If humility has anything to do with seeing ourselves as lesser than others, or feeling lowly because of our sinfulness, how could Jesus be humble?  He is God!  He lived a sinless life, and at the sound of his name all of creation will bow down and acknowledge his lordship!  This world's definition of humility is based upon shortcomings, and that definition is shot down by the existence of a man who was both perfect and humble. 

Along those same lines, when we reach heaven our sinful state will fall away, and we will be better people than we ever were.  Will that give us less reason for humility?  By no means!  Increased sanctification does not mean less humility, but more!  But if the world's definition is not true humility, then what is?

I once watched a movie called "The Lawnmower Man" (A movie I distinctly do not recommend due to it's content and humanistic values.) It was a movie about a simple man who, through a series of high-tech tests he was put through, acquired a genius mind and vast, superhuman powers.  Within that movie there were many references to him being like a god, and at one point he calls himself a "Cyber-Christ".  As I was thinking about that story, and comparing this character to the true, living God, it struck me how the writers of that story had no concept of what being Godlike really is.  They're idea of Godlike is so, well, human.  God is infinite.  His power is infinite.  We can't even comprehend that.  If a person “evolved” to the point where he was destroying and forming galaxies at a mere whim, compared to God he would still be no more significant than an ant.  No one can say "My abilities are closer to infinite than yours are." because when you are talking about whether or not the power of an entity is finite or infinite, it is a Boolean question; either you are or you aren't.  There is no in-between.  There are no varying degrees.  Compared to God, the playing field of the finite is leveled.  From that point on, the only distinction between anything finite is whether it is aligned for or against it's infinitely powerful Creator.

Humility is not seeing yourself in relation to men or anything like that, it is seeing yourself in relation to God.  It is the conscious act of seeing the omnipotence and goodness of God and submitting your life to Him.  It is seeing, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 1, (which I will be discussing in great detail) that the only significance a human can ever pursue is to be a servant of God and a channel of his goodness and power.

"He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John  3:30)

Now back to the above-mentioned passage in Philippians.  Biblical humility is not the act of counting others as more significant than yourself.  Counting others more significant than yourself is the effect of Biblical humility.  This distinction is crucial because it is possible for people, to one degree or another, to view others as more significant than themselves without the existence of God in any way factoring into their motivations.

You may be wondering why I have not referred much to art so far.  Yet the fact of the matter is that I have been indirectly discussing art along every step of this essay, and will be discussing more explicitly how that has been the case.  To some degree I am ashamed by the way in which I have thrown before you Bible passages of such great depth and yet I have hardly touched them, but my conscience is put at ease by the fact that I will assuredly expound in greater detail upon these and other verses in the future.  With this essay I am simply getting the ball rolling.