Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness & Power of the Tongue
Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness by Andrew Murray is a profound and timeless work that delves into the spiritual significance of humility. This book isn’t just a guide to a moral virtue; it’s an exploration of what Murray believes is the foundational grace of the Christian life, modeled perfectly by Jesus Christ. Murray argues that humility isn’t about self-degradation but about a right relationship with God and others. It’s the “secret of blessedness” and the key to true Christian living, spiritual power, and personal happiness.
Chapter 1: Humility: The Glory of the Creator
In this opening chapter, Murray establishes that humility is the proper and natural state of a created being. He begins by examining the relationship between God as the Creator and humanity as the creature. The highest glory of any created being, he argues, is to be a vessel for God’s glory. The creature’s purpose is to receive and reflect the power, wisdom, and love of God. Therefore, true humility is simply acknowledging the truth of our position: we have nothing that we did not receive. Pride, on the other hand, is the root of all sin and evil, as it is the creature’s attempt to be independent from God, to be something in and of itself.
Chapter 2: Humility: The Secret of Redemption
Murray explains that redemption is not just forgiveness of sins but a restoration of the lost relationship with God—a restoration of true humility. The “secret of redemption” is found in the humility of Jesus. He, the eternal Son of God, “made Himself nothing,” taking on the form of a servant. This act of profound self-emptying, or kenosis, is the very essence of His redemptive work. Murray makes it clear that we can’t overcome our pride through our own efforts. Instead, deliverance from pride comes from partaking in the very nature of Christ’s humility, which He won for us through His death and resurrection.
Chapter 3: Humility in the Life of Jesus
This chapter focuses on Jesus as the ultimate example of humility. Murray highlights how Jesus continually attributed everything He did to the Father. Jesus often said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself” (John 5:19) and “I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me” (John 8:42). Murray emphasizes that this was not a feigned humility but the very essence of Jesus’ life. His dependence on the Father was so complete that He was perfectly empty of self, allowing God to work through Him fully. It’s in this perfect humility that we see the key to all of Jesus’ power and authority.
Chapter 4: Humility in the Teaching of Jesus
Murray turns to Jesus’ direct teachings on humility, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. He points to the Beatitudes, where Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Jesus also uses a child as a model for humility, stating that whoever humbles himself like a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4). The most important lesson is that greatness in God’s kingdom is measured not by outward achievement or status, but by one’s lowliness and willingness to serve others.
Chapter 5: Humility in the Disciples of Jesus
In this chapter, Murray examines the disciples’ struggle with pride. Despite spending three years with Jesus, they continued to argue about who would be the greatest among them. This, Murray says, reveals a critical truth: humility is not something that can be learned from a human teacher or acquired through personal effort alone. It’s a supernatural grace that must be received. The disciples only began to live in true humility after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, infusing them with Christ’s humble nature.
Chapter 6: Humility in Daily Life
Murray asserts that genuine humility before God is proven by our humility towards others in our daily interactions. He draws on the Apostle Paul’s teachings, which emphasize putting others first, esteeming others as better than ourselves, and serving one another. This is where true humility is tested. A person who is genuinely humble will not be offended by criticism, will not be jealous of others’ success, and will willingly take the lowest place. This is not a performance but an overflow of a heart that is truly set on being nothing for the sake of God being all.
Chapter 7: Humility and Holiness
This chapter ties humility directly to the concept of holiness. Murray argues that humility is both the root and the fruit of holiness. It is the inward impression and the outward expression of a life set apart for God. He warns against a form of pride that can even creep into our spiritual lives—pride in our “holiness” or spiritual experiences. True holiness, he explains, is inseparable from a profound sense of nothingness before God. It’s not about what we’ve achieved but about how deeply we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace. The humble soul constantly recognizes that “it is by the grace of God I am what I am.”
Chapter 8: Humility and Sin
Murray explores the connection between humility and sin. While sin brings a sense of shame and unworthiness, true humility is not simply the product of feeling bad about our sins. It is a response to the grace of God. It is a revelation of the nature of Christ, which is so pure and so perfect that it exposes our deep-seated pride. The greater our understanding of Christ’s humility, the more we will be humbled by our own pride.
Chapter 9: Humility and Faith
This chapter presents a powerful and challenging thesis: we can never have more faith than we have humility. Murray explains that faith and pride are fundamentally incompatible. Pride seeks its own honor and relies on its own strength, while faith relies on God alone. Humility is the vessel that faith fills. It is the emptiness that allows God to do His work. The examples of great faith in the Bible, like the Centurion and the Canaanite woman, were praised by Jesus because their faith was rooted in deep humility. They came to Jesus with nothing of their own to offer, only a profound sense of need and a total dependence on His grace.
Chapter 10: Humility and Death to Self
Murray discusses the concept of “death to self” as the ultimate expression of humility. Jesus’ humility led Him to the cross—to death. For us, humility is the path to dying to our selfish desires and our will. It is a complete surrender to God’s will. This death to self is not a painful, difficult process to be avoided but a blessed release from the power of sin and pride. It is the only way to experience the fullness of Christ’s new life within us.
Chapter 11: Humility and Happiness
Paradoxically, Murray argues that humility is the secret to true happiness. He highlights the example of the Apostle Paul, who learned to “take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties” (2 Corinthians 12:10) because it was in his weakness that Christ’s power was made perfect. The humble person is happy not because of their circumstances, but because their happiness is not dependent on the praise or approval of others. Their joy is found in being empty of self, so that they may be filled with the presence and power of God. The deepest humility, Murray concludes, is the secret of the truest happiness.
Chapter 12: Humility and Exaltation
The final chapter addresses the promise of exaltation. Murray points to the repeated biblical promise: “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” This is not a humanly-earned reward but a divine promise. God’s exaltation of the humble person is not for their own glory but for His. The lower a person becomes, the faster and more fully God’s glory and power can flow through them. True exaltation is simply being made a vessel for God’s purposes. The path to being used by God is the path of being humbled, empty, and nothing, so that He can be everything.
The Author’s Message
Andrew Murray’s central message in Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness is that humility is not merely one virtue among many, but the root and life of all Christian virtues. It is the very essence of a redeemed life. The book’s core message can be summarized in a few key points:
- Pride is the root of all sin. It is the creature’s attempt to be independent from God.
- Humility is the essence of Christ’s life. His entire life, from the incarnation to the cross, was an act of profound humility and self-emptying.
- Humility is a supernatural grace. It cannot be achieved by human effort alone. It is a gift that we must earnestly desire, pray for, and receive by faith.
- Humility is essential for holiness and spiritual power. A life without humility will be a life of spiritual failure and impotence, no matter how many other gifts one possesses.
- Humility is the path to true blessedness. It leads to a life of rest, joy, and peace that is not dependent on outward circumstances.
Murray’s final prayer for humility is a fitting conclusion: “O my God! I pray that I may learn the humility of Jesus Christ. Make me so humble that I may be a vessel in which You can pour Your grace and fill me with Your divine presence.” He wants readers to recognize that the pursuit of holiness must begin with the pursuit of humility, which is the only way to be in a right relationship with both God and man.
This book is a challenging, yet deeply encouraging, call to abandon our pride and embrace the path of Christ’s humility, which is the path to holiness and true spiritual freedom.
FAQs
What is the main theme of Humility by Andrew Murray?
The main theme is that humility is the foundation of holiness and the key to a meaningful Christian life.
How can readers apply the lessons of humility today?
By practicing humility in daily interactions—serving others, forgiving quickly, and letting go of prideful attitudes.
Why is humility called the “mother of all virtues”?
Because without humility, no other virtue can truly exist—love, faith, holiness, and service all flow from a humble heart.
What makes Andrew Murray’s perspective unique?
His ability to connect humility not just to personal piety but to every aspect of Christian life, showing its central importance.
Is this book suitable for beginners in spiritual reading?
Yes, it’s short, simple, and practical, making it accessible for anyone beginning their spiritual journey.