Pride Verses Humble
But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6
We all wrestle with pride as some level, and probably don’t realize it because we may have justified our choice. Satan is very deceptive in having us justify our choices.
There are many verses in the Bible that shows God dislikes pride. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (2 Corinthians 2:7) The Lord allowed Satan to put a thorn in the apostle Paul’s side to remind him not be prideful. Paul was a Pharisee before he became a Christian, and the Pharisee’s were very prideful, so Paul had a pride problem and God dealt with it.
Pride can be when we have a clear choice, and we put our will over God’s will. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matthew 7:21) As a Christian we seek to always do the Lord’s will in whatever we are doing, and we are always a light for Christ. We make a lot of choices such a going on vacation, which God normally approves, but we are always a light for Christ. We carry a Bible and we seek to attend church where ever go.
If we go through life with our thoughts far from the Lord, and our light for Christ is dim, can we consider that pride? A Christian is a full-time servant of Christ, not a part-time servant when it is convenient for us. You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3) The battle we all face is being our own god, because sometimes we make a wrong choice that is displeasing to God and we are not even aware. Satan can sneak pride into our life that triggers our justification.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Philippian 2:8) We are being molded to conform to the image of his Son, and how can we conform unless we are humble and secure in Christ. A humble person has their identity and self-worth from Christ, and not from man.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 13-4) This defines a person that is humble. because a humble Christian has their priority on doing God’s will and being a light on a hill, telling the world about Christ. A Humble person doesn’t have to prove himself to anyone except Christ. If we truly know God and all his attributes, we will be humble.
Today be aware of any prideful choices, and whatever you do be a light for Christ. Remember we are always a servant of Christ; it’s not a part–time task.
Prayer: Lord kill any pride in me, and make me humble. In Jesus name, Amen