“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6). Since there are times when all of us suffer from sinful pride, what are some helps for overcoming it in our lives?
Remember That God Hates Pride. The Bible makes that very clear in passages like Proverbs 6:16-17 and 8:13. And anything God hates should be as far removed as possible from the lives of those who are His people (1 Pet. 1:15- 16).
Remember That After We Have Done All We Can Do, We Still Are Unprofitable Servants. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). One may think he has many things to brag about until he recognizes his life is nothing without God (Matt. 5:3). Only in humbly serving God out of love can one find a true sense of purpose and peace (Mic. 6:8; Gal. 5:6).
Remember That Whatever We Are And Accomplish Is Due To The Grace Of God. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 3:5). While it is true we can accomplish tasks by using our talents, intellect and through the sweat of our brow, it still is God who gives us minds with which to think, talents to exercise and muscles with which to labor. It is still due to His grace (1 Cor. 15:10).
Remember Not To Think Of Ourselves More Highly Than We Ought. What a temptation this is sometimes! “For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). “A man who through pride puts himself up on a pedestal has no place to step but off.”
Remember To Glory In The Cross. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14). The nearer we draw to the Cross, the more we pour contempt on all our pride. There is simply no way to be guilty of pompous pride and to be a humble debtor at the same time.
Remember Love Will Cure Sinful Pride. Few would doubt that pride is the most common form of “I” trouble. The Bible says, “love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up” (1 Cor. 13:4). It follows then that the more sinful pride we show, the less true love we exhibit (1 John 2: 15-17). “I” is the middle letter in both sin and pride.
May our gracious God give us the strength to diligently work in cultivating the grace of humility (Col. 3:12-14).
-Mike Vestal
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