At first glance, the words “humility” and “boldness” seem like total opposites of each other. According to the world’s standards, it’s impossible to be humble and bold at the same time; however, God’s definition of these terms is different. The world says that being humble means being timid or shy, but the world doesn’t know God. The biblical definition of humility is to agree with His Word, and to bring our attitudes into compliance with it.

One example of this was Moses. “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3, NKJV). We’ve all seen people who act shy and overly humble in front of others, or individuals so bold that they insist on taking center stage all the time. Moses didn’t fit into either of these categories, yet he agreed with God and acted on His instructions. Despite being humble, when God sent him to Pharaoh to deliver His message, Moses was bold as a lion and refused to back down.

Sometimes being humble means fighting for what we believe, like David did. As a boy, he humbly obeyed his father and quietly tended the sheep every day. However, at the proper time, he boldly went up against Goliath.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel… So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him (1 Samuel 17:45, 46, 50).

David’s faith in God and his willingness to obey Him gave him courage and boldness to do what others were afraid to try.

Being humble according to God’s standards definitely doesn’t mean being a pushover. Jesus, the ultimate picture of humility, showed boldness when He did things that weren’t accepted or politically correct for the times, like eating with sinners, healing lepers, and speaking directly with women. He even boldly entered the temple and violently drove out the money-changers (Matthew 21:12; John 2:14-16). Later, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit made His once-timid apostles so bold that not even the threat of death could stop them from speaking out.

The world mistakes godly humility for pride and arrogance because they’re not familiar with God’s promises. We’re the apple of His eye and His beloved children, perfected in Jesus Christ, and empowered with the ability to do supernatural things others can’t. Agreeing with who He says we are makes us bold. Confidence in our identity in Him allows us to walk humbly, like Jesus.

Humility doesn’t mean being a wallflower or a doormat for others; neither does boldness mean being rude or ill-mannered. Jesus, who humbled Himself to the point of washing others’ feet and dying on a cross, makes us bold. “According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:11, 12, NKJV). Understanding this gives us insight the world doesn’t have.

For more on God’s definition of humility and how it centers around our connection with Him, click on the link below for the three-message series, Humility 101: The Gateway to God’s Success.