About pride and HUMILITY

Humility is a state of mind very pleasing to God and very important for followers of Christ. He hates prideful hearts—full of arrogance—people who think they virtually know it all, when they actually know only the tiniest fraction of all there is to know about the present, the past and the future. The all-knowing, omnipresent Creator of the universe knows how pathetically wrong humans are in their self-estimation and conceipt.

The Atheist displays his utter lack of humility (and lack of knowledge and true understanding) when he foolishly claims, “I KNOW that there is NO God.”

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. —Romans 12:3 NKJV

We don’t have the right to claim that we have done anything on our own. God gives us what it takes to do all that we do. —2 Corinthians 3:5 CEV

NASB: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” —2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB

“Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me…” —Romans 15:17-18 NASB

“What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” —1 Corinthians 3:5-7 NASB

“I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:11-13 NASB

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. —Psalm 25:8-9 ESV

Christ’s humble example

Christ, in His own life on Earth, gave us an amazing example of true humility. See: Christ humbled himself

“…although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [utilized or asserted], but emptied Himself [laid aside His privileges], taking the form of a bond-servant [a willing slave], and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.” —Philippians 2:6-8 NASB

We should be led to true humility by remembering our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honor (Proverbs 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Psalm 147:6; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2; 1 Peter 5:5).

True followers of Christ are willingly, in Godly service, to become virtual slaves for Christ on this sinful Earth, humbly devoted to expanding the Kingdom of God as He wills. But not only slaves, for simulataneously, we are also FREE men and women, have the great privilege of being His friends and His beloved children—destined for future great reward and glory.

It is a beautiful paradox that God has made HUMILITY the way to future GLORY.

“…the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” —1 Peter 3:4b NASB

True humility produces patience, gentleness and lack of jealousy of others.

“True humility preserves the soul in tranquility (Psalm 69:32-33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22 ESV—“In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”)

Pride in one’s humility is a sin.

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Article Version: September 26, 2024