The opening question in our first birth class was “what qualities would you like your child to have?” As we went around the group, people shared their various aspirations. They wanted their kids to be smart or sporty, and one (I remember) wanted their child to have “good knees.” However, one Christian parent (not me!) said, “I want them to be humble.” The answer fell to the ground a bit like a lead balloon. Humility. In a society that is more and more proud of pride, it is an increasingly distinctively Christian virtue. But what is Christian humility exactly? And what does it actually look like in practice? In light of these questions, I was very thankful for the opportunity to read Gavin Ortlund’s Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness.

This book is the first in the Growing Gospel Integrity series by Crossway. This series seeks to unpack how a particular quality (in this case, humility), is grounded in the gospel and what it looks like in the life of the believer. In Humility, Ortlund recasts what we usually think Christian humility is in order to more faithfully reflect the Scriptures. He defines humility as “self-forgetfulness leading to joy” (p. xxvi) and grounds its pursuit in the incarnation (and death) of Christ. Hence he prays,

Lord, we marvel at your stunning display of humility. You, the Most High, have not refrained from taking the lowest and worst position imaginable. O Lord, how foolish all our pride seems when we remember the cross! Help us to follow your example, Lord. Teach us the pathway of humility. (p. 7)

Prayers such as these are scattered throughout the book and provide a helpful prompt to engage with the content before the throne of God.

A significant goal of this book is to engage the heart. Ortlund wants the reader to see the delicious goodness of humility. He wants us to want to be humble, not merely to know that we should be humble. His aim, therefore, is to move humility from being seen as a drab, dour, dreary virtue, which we pursue as duty, to a life-giving, freeing virtue, which brings joy. He explains: “Humility opens our eyes to the wonders all around us: it is sensitivity to reality, the turning of our narrow selves to the vast ocean of externality, and ultimately to God himself. In this way, humility is, in every circumstance, the key to joy, flourishing, and life itself” (p. xvi).

Ortlund goes on to unpack what humility actually looks like in the personal life of the believer and then in the corporate life of the church (considering humility as a leader, as a peer, and towards our leaders). This means that the book lends itself both to use as a means of personal encouragement (perhaps with a careful explanation if you’re giving it as a gift!) and also as a tool for training those stepping into leadership roles.

Humility is not an in-depth analysis of all the scriptural passages on humility, but it is a sure-fire encouragement to be humble. Ortlund outlines his target clearly and hits it cleanly. Perhaps for the first time in my life, I was convinced of the freeing and joy-filling impact this virtue can have when we listen to what the Scriptures say about it.

Another strength of the book is the way Ortlund unpacks what humility can actually look like. In this regard, the third chapter, “10 Practices to Kill Pride,” is worth a re-read. Likewise, in his chapter on humility in leadership, Ortlund warns that “if you are in a position of authority, you will become either a servant or a bully” (p. 46). But he does not stop there. He goes on to outline practical ways in which humility will be evidenced in the life of a leader, providing helpful litmus tests along the way. For example, when encouraging his reader to trust others with ministry responsibilities, he suggests: “If you are a leader and you are not regularly feeling vulnerable because of how much authority you are giving away—how much trust you are placing in others—you are probably not leading with humility” (pp. 47–48). Humility often has a “you-know-it-when-you-see-it-but-you-can’t-describe-how-to-be-it” quality. This book steps into that gap and adopts the tone of a trainer, both encouraging the reader to want it and spelling out how to be it.

On first reading, I found myself wishing that Ortlund had brought more scriptural engagement into his introduction, as it is here that he deals with misconceptions and sets out his definition. But this comes in later chapters. So, if you have the same reaction, fear not and read on. The scriptural riches are coming, and the wait is worth it.