By Melanie Mar Chow

When we ask, we develop humility. Dr. Henry Cloud follows this thought with a reminder when we invite others to help us see a more complete picture of God’s intention.  

Much of the Bible is written to a community, not individuals. The Old Testament is to inform readers about God’s love for Israel and why they are His chosen people. God employed writers in the New Testament for people to learn solutions greatly needed. In the small moment after lunch, I invited my brain cells to ponder the communities of faith Paul addressed. He wrote to the Corinthians not just once but twice, then the Roman, Galatian, Ephesian, Philippian, Colossian and Thessalonian peoples. 

God’s instructions were never intended just for one but for a unique community. Somewhere history was misguided by Western mindsets, creating an inability to ask others to join our journey for redirection.

Have we forgotten the richness of the corporate reading of God’s word? Often one person reads to a group. A different dynamic happens when a group of people reads together. How interesting to hear during these readings, pauses when God’s word strikes a nerve. These pauses allow reflection upon what was heard and consider what was important. The chorus of voices sometimes fades, but satisfaction is when the group comes to the intentional end of the corporate reading with a thoughtful pause.

Dr. Cloud also notes that when we take on a position of humility, individually, it opens us up to investigate and experience the giftedness in others as a manifestation of love from God for others. No wonder God seems not to answer us when our prayers become too focused, or our actions make us self-absorbed. When we realize that we are not the center of the Earth, but a part of the creation God has made, this fosters transformation. Humility is key to moving us to open ourselves to what others bring, which draws us to see our need for God.  

Humility helps redirect misinformed hearts to God. Most of the time, our pride bristles when having someone younger, like your child or co-worker give uninvited guidance with a different viewpoint. If we practice asking in humility, though challenging for some, it is lifegiving when we learn what God intended for us. 

This moment begs for an example of personal humility. I appreciate looking to others to see God’s demonstration of humility in their life. Being a missionary, I have struggled with being humble enough to move according to God’s plans to invite His people to join me. Though a struggle, I asked others who have done this successfully if I could shadow their efforts, receive their prayer letters, and find ways to invite and encourage their support team. God has since brought people with other perspectives and methods to provide a monthly salary for the last 30+ years simply by asking Him.  

Another simple example came this week for my husband. One perk as a manager is a company credit card. A recent lunch run brought the realization that a few credit cards were missing from his aging, sagging wallet. One card was easy to replace, but the company card posed a challenge to reporting the loss. Realizing his boss might have the same company card, he called to ask if there was information on his card’s backside to report a loss. Another case in point that asking enables humility.

The interesting thing is how hard it is to grow in humility.  However, humility in the presence of community and a simple ask moves us toward all the things God desires for us, which is better for everyone in the end.

These examples demonstrate that within the body of Christ, we should grow in practicing humility with an ask. As an exercise for growth, ask and invite others to deepen your humility, then share with others your experience or with us in the comment section below.

Rev. Melanie Mar Chow serves God through Asian American Christian Fellowship, the campus ministry division of the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS). She has been an ordained American Baptist minister since 2004. A Pacific Northwest native, she currently lives with her husband and daughter in Southern California.