Walking worthy has the look of six descriptors, Paul writes. These quiet, unsung characteristics of the Christian life do not get the fanfare of great prophecies, fantastic healings or great oratory. Yet these comprise a worthy life more than moving mountains, giving vast sums to the poor or establishing large religious organizations. They cannot be faked, they cannot be manufactured, and they cannot be mimicked for personal benefit. They are qualities of none-other than the Lord Jesus Christ, and the apostle calls upon us to set these as the focus of worthiness. (See Colossians 3:12 for a list of similar characteristics).

Humility begins the list and is reflected in many other places in Scripture (see Phil 2:1-11, Rom 12:3, etc.), but especially in Jesus, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Contrary to our fallen human nature, humility is the antidote to prideful self-centeredness. I am not the center of the universe—that must be set straight before anything else.

Gentleness joins humility in Christ as well. There is no need for forcefulness in relationships with others since my agenda does not include asserting my rights and security. Christlikeness is focused on others.

Humbleness also leads to patience. By lead, I don’t mean that one naturally results in the next. Rather, these are spiritually linked and feed off one another. It is difficult to be patient when one is self-centered, but the inner ego demands, however so subtly, that all others do our bidding, and to do it in my timetable. Patience means relinquishing my grip on time. It is not mine ultimately, it belongs to God—and He loves the people who “take up space” in my timeline.

Tolerance, seen in this light, becomes understandably the outworking of patience. Tolerance means I make allowance for the differences between how I think things ought to be done versus how others do things. It allows others to share my space in life, and I relax my grip on my time-line, and enjoy their presences regardless.

All these things can only be motivated by selfless love, agape love. This will give us a good foothold for preserving true unity, which Paul has regaled as being the great mystery of the Church, namely, we are one in Christ. This is what brings genuine “peace on earth, good will toward all men.”