economics

Humility Holds Up the World

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Editor's Note

Equipping articles aim to equip ministry leaders to advance the way of Christ in all of culture by 1. clarifying a particular cultural issue, 2. identifying the challenge it presents to Christians and the Church, and 3. offering a way forward for Christians and ministry leaders. These are typically short-form and not comprehensive in nature.

This article is a part of our series, The Way of Christ in Work and Rest.

“Incentive is the engine of capitalism. Remove it, and the system fails.” In the most recent installment of the series Surrounded by the YouTube channel “Jubilee,” Patrick Bet-David defended this claim against waves of anti-capitalist debaters. Bet-David’s opponents continually returned to the idea that the fundamental incentives in capitalism are monetary gain and survival. They claimed that the former is hollow and greedy, and the latter is nihilistically bleak. The anti-capitalists argue that intrinsic motivation—passion, self-improvement, development of skill, etc.—is the source of good incentives.

I agree with his opponents on this rebuttal. I also agree with Bet-David that free markets have done more for humanity than any other economic system, and that when incentives are hindered, capitalism is dead in its tracks. But does Christianity not undermine the incentive system in the US economy? For example and for my treatment here, we will examine the relationship between humility and the economy. Humility seems to be antithetical to vigorous productivity. Is Christianity “largely a reactive force… busy with rearguard holding operations more than with pioneering novel technologies, innovative economic methods or groundbreaking social ideas?”[1]

No. Humility does not cease all industry. On the contrary, humility itself is a catalyst for industriousness.

No amount of money, clout, social standing, career advancement, competition, job security—some usual incentives for us moderns—could make Paul work as hard as he did.

The Economy Against Humility

It might seem like humility is a square peg in the round hole of economics—it just cannot fit. Indeed, the influential, “capitalist” philosopher Ayn Rand was uncomfortable with altruism and humility in economics, and her beliefs have been eagerly received by many modern conservatives. Put simply, she argued that rational self-interest (what she provocatively called “selfishness”) is a moral virtue—not something to be ashamed of, but necessary for culture to thrive. To be fair to Rand, she defined selfishness as “concerns with one’s own interests.”[1] This is not necessarily problematic, but she takes the idea further saying that man “must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself… his own happiness is man’s highest moral purpose.”[2]

This plays out in her novel, Atlas Shrugged, where Rand connects the entrepreneurs, industrialists, scientists, and innovators of society who metaphorically carry the world on their shoulders to the Greek myth of Atlas, who physically carries the world on his shoulders. When incentives for productivity are eroded away in the name of altruism, the movers of society abandon their endeavors. Atlas shrugs, leaving the world to fall.

Defending Humility

In stark contrast to Rand’s prohibition of self-sacrifice, Paul instructs in Philippians 2:3–4 to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” So then, humility at large needs no defense, but does humility hinder ingenuity and hard work?

In 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul says “I am what I am” by grace, yet he has “worked harder than any of them.” What industry does grace afford? Apparently, a lot! What were Paul’s incentives here? They were certainly not performance-based—they were “by the grace of God.” No amount of money, clout, social standing, career advancement, competition, job security—some usual incentives for us moderns—could make Paul work as hard as he did. Furthermore, the grace shown to him was productive (“was not in vain”)! His incredibly fruitful work was produced by something that he did not initiate. It was by grace that his hard work manifested. What a humbling incentive to work as hard as you can!

Are the works that Paul produced “simply” love and peace, rather than the needs of the economy—yield, profit, widgets, and services? By no means! Many in our culture question the productivity of Christianity, for instance, “if you count on national health services, pension funds and free education, you need to thank Marx and Lenin,”[3] not Christianity.

However, when history is viewed soberly, even staunch skeptics of Christianity like Bart Ehrman see the industriousness of Christianity. Ehrman notes that “prior to the Christian conquest of the Empire, the Western world knew of no such things as hospitals, orphanages, private charities, or governmental assistance to the poor. These are Christian innovations.”[4]

During the Plague of Cyprian, pagan physicians and priests abandoned entire cities, fleeing the death. Christians, however, stayed, caring for the ill, so that “it is entirely plausible that Christian nursing would have reduced the mortality rate by as much as two-thirds!”[5]

What virtue best fosters and demonstrates an economic dependence on and trust in God? Humility. What virtue best encourages philanthropy in a culture—both in private investment and in charity? Humility. What could possibly possess a person to expose him/herself to the plague—almost guaranteeing death—so that the terminally ill might be comforted? Humility! It is a disposition of increasing self-sacrifice that culminates in human flourishing.

Humility in the Workplace

Not only does humility lead to the thriving of humanity, humility also leads to thriving in the workplace. What if the core of the ethos of every worker—engineer, plumber, doctor, teacher, politician—was humility? It bears countless fruits indispensable to the workplace. Here are a few:

Humility accepts criticism. There are fewer traits that we should want more in a worker than one who is receptive to feedback. Imagine a workplace where everyone responds with teachable attitudes when criticized. How easy it would be to settle conflict in a workplace where everyone patiently receives criticism!

Humility fosters self-correction and continual learning. The humble worker is always open to the idea that his or her way is not the only correct way of doing a task. They know deeply that they are susceptible to error, and so they are primed and ready to improve.

Humility fosters proper rhythms of rest. Do we want a culture that only admires mechanistic laborers, cranking out work non-stop? Humble workers are self-correcting in their need for rest. They admit that they are weak and have a wise understanding of their need for breaks and can better identify what is an appropriate workload.

Humility fights against these behaviors in the office: anxiety-driven performance; the craving for approval; the feeling of deservedness; working for attention; working “only while being watched, as people-pleasers” (Eph. 6:6); working only for promotions. All of these stem from self-preoccupation and self-preservation. It is not difficult to imagine the results of these prideful attitudes in the workforce—exaggeration and lying; falsifying studies, research, and data; infighting among coworkers for power and accolades; disenfranchisement and lethargy in work ethic.

Jesus will eternally be demonstrating his humility—he is evermore incarnate.

Our Humility

Do you love the prosperity generated by capitalism? Do you strive to be efficient and productive in your work? Fight the pride that swells up in your own heart—pride that pushes out humility—because humility creates flourishing. How do we do this? Look to the infinitely humble Christ.

In Philippians 2:9–11 we see the consummate exaltation of Jesus: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” For what reason has the Father so dignified the Son? The word “therefore” in verse 9 points us back to verse 8 where we read that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Therefore, Jesus was exalted because of his humility and obedience. Jesus submitted his will to the Father, accepting his responsibility to bear the weight of the world on the cross. Unlike Atlas, he was obedient—to the point of death—with no possibility of shrugging off the weight.

Not only has Jesus demonstrated unfathomable humility in his incarnation, condescension, and obedience unto death, he continues to humbly identify with his children and his creation from now until forever. Indeed, Jesus will eternally be demonstrating his humility—he is evermore incarnate. Not despite his humility, but because of it, he forever holds the whole world in his hands.

Humility himself holds up the world.

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PhD Apologetics and Culture

The PhD in Apologetics and Culture is to prepare persons to teach within an academic setting or work within a church and/or campus ministry seeking to have an effective apologetic voice by understanding and engaging culture with the truth claims of Christ.

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[1] Yuval Harari, “Salvation by Algorithm: God, Technology and the New 21st-Century Religions,” New Statesman, September 9, 2016, https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2016/09/salvation-by-algorithm-god-technology-and-the-new-21st-century-religions.

[2] Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness, (New York: Penguin Books, 1964), 5.

[3] Ibid., 19.

[4] Harari, “Salvation by Algorithm.”

[5] Bart Ehrman, “The Invention of Charity: My Prospectus for the Book,” The Bart Ehrman Blog, June 21, 2022, https://ehrmanblog.org/the-invention-of-charity-my-prospectus-for-the-book/.

[6] Rodney Stark, The Triumph of Christianity, (New York: Harper Collins, 2011), 117. Chapter 6 is replete with examples of the selfless love of Christians during this period.

  • economics
  • public square
  • work
Jacob A. McMasters

Dancer Research Fellow

Jake serves as the current Dancer Fellow for the Center for Faith and Culture. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MA in Biblical Languages from Liberty University. He is currently pursuing an MA in Biblical Studies at Southeastern. He and his wife Charissa attend IDC and desire to join a church planting team overseas. Jake enjoys board games, hiking, and Pixar movies.

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