The One Pie Nobody Wants to Eat
What’s your favorite kind of pie?
Now that it’s officially fall, maybe your thoughts turned to pumpkin or pecan.
A quick google search— “America’s favorite pie,” brought up (in this order): cherry, pumpkin, apple, pecan and blueberry. (No one can argue with that!)
But there’s one pie that will never make that list and that’s because it’s not really a pie—it’s a saying.
It’s an idiom we use to describe the unpleasant feelings associated with having to humble ourselves—so for example, we might say: I really messed up at work, and I had to eat some humble pie.
Have you ever wondered where this saying comes from?
It’s interesting.
It began as a play on words back in the Middle Ages.
“Umbles” was the word for the less desirable cuts of meat (the entrails) from deer. It was what lower-ranking servants would eat (usually in the form of a meat pie), while the upper classes had access to the more usual and tastier cuts.
So, it was a pie filled with umbles – an umble pie.
And when someone had to intentionally humble themselves, they began punning by adding an h upfront and saying: I have to eat (h)umble pie!
It was perfect, and very clever—not only did it rhyme, it killed two birds with one stone (there’s another idiom worth looking up).
Having to eat humble pie speaks to the unpleasant task of self-abasement and how distasteful the whole ordeal is for self-absorbed creatures like you and me . Fallen humanity is not a fan of humility—it runs hard against the grain of our bloated egos.
Back in the 70’s, Mac Davis wrote a satirical song about our problem with pride:
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
‘Cause I get better lookin’ each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a heck of a man
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doin’ the best that I can!
And yet, as counter-intuitive and as unappealing as humbleness can be to you and to me, it’s a character quality that God Himself possesses, and it’s a virtue He loves to see displayed in the lives of His children.
It’s hard to grasp the fact that our glorious God and Savior is by nature, humble; and that He dwelled among us with humility.
Come to Me, our Savior says, for I am gentle and humble in heart (Matthew 11:28-30).
Wow.
The Apostle Paul, speaking of Jesus, put it this way:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be used to His own advantage;
rather, He made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross (Phil. 2:5-7)!
If Jesus humbled Himself, it makes sense we should be open to the idea ourselves.
Especially with commands like these:
“Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” and “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand” (1 Peter 5:5-6).
Is there a difference between humility and being humble?
Not really.
Humility is the noun, the state of being modest in spirit; the word humble is the adjective that describes the modest person: John is humble. Both words come from the same root that means “low to the ground,” as opposed to being puffed up with pride.
In other words, humble people do not think more highly of themselves than is warranted (Romans 12:3). They are in complete compliance with Paul’s word to the Philippians:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves (2:3).
How Does Humility Express Itself in Our Lives?
Well, humility doesn’t stand a chance unless we’re cooperating with the Holy Spirit. Only He can slay the beast of pride within and make humbleness an attractive thing to us.
Fortunately, with God all things are possible—even having a humble heart.
If we have humility, we won’t look down on anyone or speak to another with a condescending tone.
A humble person can clean up someone else’s mess, and do it with joy and without resentment.
A person with humility isn’t easily offended because there isn’t much of their ego out there to offend. One writer defined humility this way: “to make yourself small.”
The humble person knows their own weaknesses and sin; therefore, they are more apt to sympathize with fellow strugglers rather than judge them with an air of self-righteousness.
And humility kills that urge brag or boast because we know anything good in our lives comes from God; so if we boast, we boast in the Lord.
One last thought: humble people are quick to apologize and admit when they’re wrong. They don’t think they know everything.
Yes, humbling ourselves on a daily basis doesn’t come easy, but it’s worth it!
Peter says: God opposes the proud, but gives grace (favor) to the humble!
And if that’s the case, please pass me a slice of that delicious humble pie!
The more of God’s grace and favor, the better!
Father God, we confess our stubborn pride to you. It’s a daily battle, Lord. Help us to remember Jesus and live as He did: not to be served, but to serve. Teach us how to do that and help us to find humility desirable. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
