God gives His grace to those who are humble. 1 Peter 5:5-7 “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” The wonderful grace of God is given to those of us who are humble. His grace includes His mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and justification. It also includes spiritual gifts, help in time of need and everlasting blessings. He will exalt the humble but He resists the proud.
The proud person takes pride in himself and his accomplishments and his abilities and his choices. Pride is a form of self-worship. Psalms 10:4 “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” The humble person recognizes his weaknesses and inabilities and turns to God in faith.
The proud person will not come to Jesus for salvation because he thinks he is righteous. He thinks that he is better than others and that his life is good; he doesn’t need Jesus. Luke 18:9-14 “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” In this case, the tax collector was humble whereas the Pharisee was proud. The one was humble, admitted his sins and received forgiveness. The other was proud and self-righteous and was not justified before God. 1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” We can deceive ourselves that we have no sin. We would be liars if we say we have not sinned. But if we humble ourselves and admit our sin and are willing to confess to God our failings, then He will give us His grace and forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I encourage you to be humble and admit your sin before God and your fellow man.
The proud person makes his own decisions and decides how he will spend his life and what goals he will pursue. The humble person realizes that he doesn’t know what is best and seeks direction from God. Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” The humble person trusts in the Lord for direction. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Isaiah 30:21 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” The humble person asks God for wisdom and direction. James 1:5-6 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” I encourage you to seek wisdom and direction in your life from God.
The proud person trusts in his own strength and abilities. The humble person trusts in the power of God. The apostle Paul had to learn this lesson in his life. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” We need to also learn this lesson that we cannot trust in our own strength and power. Our own strength has its limitations. But God is not limited. God wants us to trust and depend upon Him rather than upon ourselves.
The proud person brags about his accomplishments and abilities. The humble person gives thanks and glory to God. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Our attitude should be that all that we have received and all that we do is because of God’s grace, and we give glory to Him.
The proud person thinks only of himself and his needs and his desires. The humble person looks at the needs and interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” I encourage you to be interested in meeting the needs of others.
I encourage you to be humble. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Walk humbly before God.