One of the most important values that Christians should uphold is humility. Frustratingly, it’s one of the hardest ones to maintain. We humans think so much about ourselves that pride ends up becoming a close companion, even at times when we don’t realize it. Christians, however, should be diligent about finding the pride inside them and asking God to remove it.
God explains to us why pride is bad and the benefits that come with humility all throughout Scripture. We see in Proverbs, “When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2), and that “A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). The prophet Micah also, in listing good things that God requires of his people, said that “walk[ing] humbly” with God was essential (Micah 6:8). That message is also in 2 Chronicles, where God promised to heal the land of the people who were humble before him (2 Chronicles 7:14). We even see in Psalms that salvation is described as a gift given to the humble (Psalm 149:4). And over and over again, it is reiterated that “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
When it comes to humility, there is no one in history who has ever out-humbled God. He asks us to do it because he has paved the way for us.
Thankfully, this isn’t something God is expecting from us without having first done it himself. When it comes to humility, there is no one in history who has ever out-humbled God. He asks us to do it because he has paved the way for us. Philippians highlights the fact that Jesus coming to Earth as a human like us was the greatest act of humility anyone could have ever demonstrated because He gave up the rights and privileges of divinity to serve and save us (Philippians 2:5–8). So Christians, empowered by His Spirit, are just following His example. Jesus tells us that the people who make themselves out to be something important will be humbled, and that the ones who humble themselves will be honored (Matthew 20:26–27; Mark 9:35; 10:43–44; Luke 14:11).
When we follow God, then, we know we will be taking a path of humility (Psalm 25:9). And like John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, our consistent desire should be for Jesus to increase in us and for our own selves to decrease (John 3:30).
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