The root of pride is self-centeredness. The root of humility is Christ-centeredness. Pride is an unwillingness to submit to God’s Word. Humility is submission to God’s Word. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He asked God to forgive those who crucified Him. Even then, Jesus refused to put Himself into the center of the situation. Christ deliberately put others first. We must make this same choice if we are to operate in humility and total dependence on God.

A basic guideline to avoid falling into pride and ensure we stay humble is to evaluate whether we have put ourselves, instead of Jesus, in the center of a situation. Some fruits of pride are bitterness, grief, anger, sadness, blaming others, and a refusal to take responsibility for our own actions. In Genesis 3:12, when God questioned Adam about why he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam said that Eve had given him the fruit to eat. Adam was operating in pride by not taking responsibility for his actions. By contrast, after King David committed adultery and ordered a man to be killed, he humbled himself before God and admitted what he did. Humility does not mean we do not sin. It means we have a heart turned toward God, just as David’s was, and a willingness to submit to His Word.

Is there an area of your life or a particular relationship in which you need to humble yourself? You can make the change right now by asking God for His help and guidance in this area. Ask Him what He would have you do from this point forward and be confident that you will clearly hear what He speaks to you. Once you hear from God and get the understanding you need, act on His wisdom and continue to seek Him every step of the way.

Prayer:

Lord, we come to You humbly, casting every care on You. We trust in Your love for us and believe that what Your Word says is true. More grace is flowing in our lives because we choose to have an attitude of humility. Thank You for Your grace and mercy, and all that You’ve done for us. It is in Jesus’ name that we pray and believe. Amen.

Scripture:

Luke 23:34

Genesis 3:12

Proverbs 16:18

Philippians 2:3