The Wisdom of Humility

It is great to have opinions.

As we interact with the world, we naturally form opinions to help us make sense of what is happening around us. This is part of being human—we interpret, analyze, and come to conclusions. Our opinions shape our choices, how we engage with others, and even how we vote or spend money.

But here’s the problem: more often than not, our opinions are formed without all the information. Usually we only have part of story or the information we have is biased in a particular direction. We rarely have the entire story. News outlets, social media feeds, and even our own conversations often highlight one angle, one perspective, or one set of “facts.” Sadly, even with our limited knowledge, we still feel like we know the truth. This becomes a problem when we cling tightly to that sense of certainty, which in turn sets us up for pride.

That’s why I believe that humility is such an essential mark of wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2 (NLT) says:

“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

This verse reminds us that wisdom isn’t primarily about how much we know—it’s about the posture of our heart. Wisdom flows out of humility because humility admits, “I don’t know everything. I could be wrong. I might be missing something.” That doesn’t mean we never speak with conviction, but it does mean we carry our convictions with open hands rather than clenched fists.

The Gaps in Our Knowledge

One of the hardest things for us to admit is that our perspective is incomplete. Each of us has blind spots. We all see through a particular lens shaped by our upbringing, our culture, our experiences, and even our personalities. When we forget this, we can easily fall into the trap of arrogance—believing that our opinion is the truth.

Humility allows us to slow down and say, “I may not have or understand all the facts.”That acknowledgment doesn’t make us weak—it makes us gracious. It gives us the ability to listen to those with opposing beliefs without immediately dismissing them. It allows us to love our neighbor, even when we strongly disagree with them.

When we fail to have humility, we are intentionally turning a blind eye to the gaps in our knowledge. We shut down opportunities for growth, and we harden our hearts toward people God has called us to love. Pride closes the door to understanding, but humility opens it wide.

Becoming Like Jesus

Humility may not make us persuasive. In fact, in our world of hot takes and sharp debates, humility often feels out of place. People are more likely to be drawn to the loudest voices rather than the most thoughtful ones. But in the end, humility is not about winning arguments—it is about becoming more like Jesus.

Philippians 2:5–8 reminds us of the humility of Christ:

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (NLT)

If Jesus—the Son of God—chose the path of humility, then how can we choose any other way? Humility is not weakness; it is strength under control. It is choosing to lower ourselves so that God may be glorified. It is choosing to listen, to love, and to serve rather than dominate, dismiss, or belittle.

A Final Thought

In a world overflowing with opinions, what if Christians became known not for their loudness but for their humility? What if we modeled the wisdom of admitting we don’t know everything and showed grace to those who see things differently?

Humility won’t always get us applause. It won’t make us trend on social media. But it will make us more like Jesus. And in the end, that is what truly matters.