It’s hard to understate the importance of humility in leadership. Sometimes, when I’m teaching, I’ll ask potential leaders to list the qualities they look for in leadership. Almost without exception, humility in leadership makes the list—often near the top. 

As followers, we are drawn to examples of humility in leadership. So, when we are given the chance to lead, we need to recognize the dangers of not demonstrating humility in our lives and in our leadership. 

Leadership is a privilege and a responsibility. It’s about people, not power. And humility in leadership is key to becoming the best possible leader for those who put their trust in us, whether at home, church, or the office.

Understanding Humility

Before we can truly grasp the importance of humility in leadership, we have to know what it means. One online dictionary defines humility as “freedom from pride and arrogance.” Another says it’s “the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people,” which seems a little more helpful and practical to me.

But as Christian men, we need to see humility through God’s lens, and that suggests two important points. First, humility takes root when we see ourselves as God sees us. Humility reminds us that God created us and loves us more than anything. It reminds us that He is God, and we are not. And it reminds us that He created each of us in His image, which gives every person unique value in purpose despite our differences.

Second, humility allows us to depend completely on God. When we see ourselves as He sees us, we realize that He is so much bigger than we can imagine. And by embracing our role as the created rather than trying to usurp the role of Creator, we submit to His plan for our lives, which is the only true path to success.

Examples of Humility in Leadership

Of course, God reveals Himself to us through His Word, the Bible. So, if we’re really going to understand the importance of humility in leadership as believers and how to become examples of humility in leadership, we’ve got to see what the Scriptures say about it. 

The list below gives you four places to start your own Bible study on humility in leadership. These character studies highlight the bad, the good, and the best Scripture has to offer when it comes to examples of humility in leadership.

Negative Examples

Sometimes, people will ask if we want the good news or the bad news first. Well, for now, let’s start with the bad. For every great example of humility in leadership in the Bible, God offers a cautionary tale about arrogance and pride. Some of the best negative examples come from the kings of Israel and Judah—especially those who started off well, but landed on the sidelines because of their lack of humility.

For example, Saul, Israel’s very first king, was a pretty humble guy starting out. He didn’t go looking for the job. In fact, he hid from it (1 Samuel 10:17-24). But as time went on, arrogance replaced any sense of trusting God. The Lord eventually regretted making him king (1 Samuel 15:10-11).

Likewise, Uzziah (also known as Azariah) demonstrated incredible humility early in his reign (2 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 26:1-5), but pride got the best of him when he tried to take on tasks reserved for priests. God struck him with leprosy as a punishment (2 Chronicles 26:16-23).

An Old Testament Example

When ancient Israelites reflected on great leaders, they put Moses at the top of the list. God used him to lead them out of Egyptian slavery, and God gave him the law from His own hand. He invested four decades guiding millions through the wilderness toward the promised land. And he did it with humble leadership.

Numbers 12:3 states that “Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.” He wasn’t perfect, but he saw himself through God’s eyes and depended on the Lord in every circumstance. Like Saul, he initially balked at God’s call to leadership (Exodus 3:11; 4:10,13). Yet, unlike Saul, he learned to trust God fully—and that’s what makes him a great example of humility in leadership.

 A New Testament Example

For some 2,000 years, the apostle Paul has been celebrated as a great preacher, missionary, and Christian leader. But sometimes we forget just where he started in his journey toward humility in leadership. Thankfully, Paul was humble enough to summarize the details of his life before meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).

In some ways, Paul had a lot going for him before embracing Christianity (Philippians 3:5-6).He was a circumcised Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin, a “Hebrew of Hebrews” tracing his lineage back to Jacob, a Pharisee among the religious elite, who demonstrated his passion for God by persecuting the church.

According to the law, he was perfect.

But once Paul encountered Christ, everything changed (Philippians 3:7-11). None of the privileges and trappings of the old life mattered anymore. He no longer took pride in his own accomplishments. He boasted in what Jesus had done for him and dedicated his life to acting like Jesus.

The Ultimate Example

Paul learned about the importance of humility in leadership from the greatest possible example: Jesus. Just before listing his own useless credentials in Philippians 3, Paul painted a magnificent portrait of Jesus’s humble leadership in Philippians 2. The One who was God humbled Himself by becoming a man. The Creator became like the created. His humility led Him to embrace His Father’s plan and eventually make salvation possible by dying for the sins of the human race (Philippians 2:5-11). 

Jesus Himself stated that He did not come to be served, but to serve others (Mark 10:45). Humble leadership requires sacrifice and service. This is the example of humility in leadership we are called to imitate.

Digging Deeper Into Humble Leadership

These character studies on humility in leadership are a great jumpstart for your personal Bible study. You also might be interested in joining or initiating a Bible study on leadership with other men in your church or business. Either way, your journey toward becoming an example of humility in leadership is important to you and those God puts in your path.

Here’s one more suggestion: study the book of Proverbs. As an example of biblical wisdom literature, the Proverbs provide great insights for situations you face each day—including humility in leadership. Plus, the book is set up perfectly with 31 chapters, so you can read a chapter a day each month. It can become your handbook for how to show humility in your leadership opportunities.