So the difference between the two, lies in the source. Where does humility spring from? Let's start with the first one. Earthly humility comes from many sources. People with low self-esteem are often humble. Because of their poor self-image, typically, they feel they don't deserve the good fortune. They believe they do not possess any skills or characteristics that people would find appealing. If they won a race, they would attribute it to a fluke or luck. Every one's number is bound to come up. They also will make up excuses for why they did something well. "If that other runner didn't trip, he would have easily won." They can't help it, it's an unconscious thing. Their speech patterns will naturally flow from where their mind is at, and if they spent their entire life thinking only about themselves, then they can't help but use that word. For any famous person with a great skill, it's always expected to be humble. No one loves an arrogant person, especially since it creates this "I'm better than you" vibe, that, let's face it, isn't exactly an endearing quality.
Another type of earthly humility is the false humility, or the everyone expects me to be humble because I'm the good guy. Athletes are typically guilty of this. If they want to have a reputation for being a likeable guy, someone fans and kids can really look up to, they will often say things that seem humble. However, you really have to listen to what they're saying to be sure whether they mean it or not. If they say stuff like, "I had a great coach, who taught me well, and always encouraged me." or "It wasn't just me, it was the whole team.", then most likely they're being falsely humble. They tend to use a lot of the first person pronoun I, or other variations of it, like me, my, mine. They can't help it, it's an unconscious thing. If it isn't carefully monitored, speech patterns generally reflect where their mind is, and how they naturally think of themselves. Ultra-competitive people, which are in general athletes, superstar singers and actors, usually only care about their own selves. It's how they are able to succeed so well in their respective field. It's only natural that they think of themselves first. And yet, the public doesn't want to support egotistical people, which is what helped drive them to fame in the first place. So, these public figures take on a role, a mask if you will. The humble, good-guy-type, affable star who everyone says is just another normal person.
Of course, these aren't the only two causes. There's plenty more, but it's just the two I could think of off the top of my head. Plus, I'm as anxious as you to get to the good stuff!
On the flip side, there's the heavenly humility, which obviously has only one source... God. The thing about this type of humility is that anyone can become like it. All they need to do, is change their mind's perspective, not towards themselves (selfish) nor even toward others (selfless) but towards God. It's all about the realization that Man isn't at the top of the food chain, that there is a higher power. All of us mortals are weak, imperfect, unskilled, but there is one who isn't all of these things. Rather than compare talents and skills between two hopelessly imperfect beings, compare your talents with God. And once you do, you'll soon realize that you and God aren't playing on the same field, you're not even playing the same sport. You are barely crawling, while God is running marathons around you. And that's where spiritual humility comes from. Isaiah said it best:
“ Woe is me, for I am undone!Not only are we so far from God's standard, but a truly humble Christian realizes that all good things come from the Lord. Whatever skills you may think you have, whatever blessings you think you have inherited, whatever job, money, cars, love you possess, they all came from God. And just as easily as he gives to you, he can just as easily take it away. So don't take pride in such ephemeral things, because they won't last. Don't take pride in your wisdom, or knowledge, for those things are fleeting. Over the past year alone, we have learned that there's only 8 planets in the solar system not 9 or 10. Who knows what other knowledge we have that will be obsolete in 2, 5, 10 years from now? The only thing we can be proud of is God, the Provider of all things. "Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.' " (1Cor 1:31)
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The LORD of hosts.” (Isa 6:5)
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