How to be a ZERO.
About twenty years ago, I heard a sermon that has stuck with me. The odd thing is, I don’t remember the full sermon itself. I don’t remember the illustrations or even the preacher’s exact words. What I do remember is the title: “How to Be a Zero.”
At the time, the title confused me. Who wants to be a zero? From the moment we are children, we are taught to strive to be something—to stand out, to win, to achieve, to climb, to matter. Nobody aims to be a zero. But that was the brilliance of the message: the Bible teaches us that the way up is down, and that the way to truly live is not by exalting ourselves, but by humbling ourselves before God.
It’s a lesson I’ve had to relearn again and again: the Christian life is not about making a name for myself but about making much of Christ.
A Zero in Pride
The book of James tells us plainly: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Pride whispers that we are more than we are—that we are in control, that we are deserving, that we can manage life on our terms. Pride convinces us that we’re not a zero but a ten, maybe even higher.
But here’s the sobering truth: God actively resists the proud. He sets Himself against them. Pride doesn’t lift us; it shuts us out of the very grace we need.
Humility, on the other hand, is the posture of a zero. It’s not thinking less of ourselves—it’s seeing ourselves clearly before God. It’s admitting, “I am not enough on my own.” And when we reach that place, God’s grace rushes in.
A Zero in Self-Reliance
Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Nothing. Zero.
That statement cuts against the grain of everything our culture celebrates. We love the idea of being self-made, independent, and strong. We want to believe we can handle life if we just try harder. But the deeper we walk with Christ, the more we realize how true His words are. Without Him, our best efforts collapse. Without Him, our accomplishments fade. Without Him, even our good works are empty.
Paul himself reached this conclusion. After a lifetime of achievements, he wrote, “I count everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). In other words, when he added up his life’s scorecard, without Christ it totaled to zero.
And yet, in admitting that, Paul found the greatest treasure of all—life lived not in his strength, but in the power of God.
A Zero in Recognition
John the Baptist had a moment when his followers were worried. They saw Jesus drawing larger crowds and gaining more influence, and they came to John almost as if to complain: “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan… is baptizing, and all are going to him” (John 3:26).
John’s response is one of the most profound statements of humility in Scripture: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
That’s what it means to be a zero in recognition. It’s not about competing for attention or trying to hold onto our platform. It’s about being content—even joyful—when Christ is exalted, even if it means we fade into the background.
In a world obsessed with likes, followers, and applause, John’s words are a piercing reminder: our worth isn’t in being noticed. It’s in making Jesus known.
Becoming a Zero, Finding Everything
Here’s the paradox of the gospel: when we become a zero in ourselves, we discover that in Christ, we are worth everything.
Paul captures this beautifully in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul had learned that life wasn’t about building his name or relying on his strength. He had become a zero to the world’s values—but in Christ, he found life abundant and eternal.
This is the mystery of the gospel: when you lose yourself, you find your true self. When you decrease, Christ increases. When you lay down your pride, self-reliance, and craving for recognition, you make space for God’s power, God’s grace, and God’s glory.
So, how do you become a zero? You humble yourself under God’s mighty hand. You stop pretending you can do it all alone. You step out of the spotlight and point others to Jesus.
And when you do, you’ll discover the paradox that has shaped Christians for centuries: being a zero in yourself makes you infinitely valuable in Christ.
The world may never understand it. But the kingdom of God is built on it.