We all have emotion in us which makes us to feel self satisfied for what we have achieved. This comes out as boasting or pride when we tell others,This happens when we achieve something or when we acquire new things in our life. Say if you go to college and get GPA of 9.2, you feel very proud of your intelligence compared to others, when you buy a house you compare to others and say how better it’s compared to others, similarly if you buy a car you tend to compare it against the same segment or lower segment and say how better it.
Think for a moment, why did God give this emotion of self satisfaction and where did this pride come from ?
Pride is an attitude that causes us to credit ourselves for our accomplishments and to blame others for our failures. On the other hand, humility is an attitude that views both our accomplishments and our failures from God's perspective.
Pride is a sin. Look at the way how Bible condemns pride and how humility is exalted
Pride | Humility |
“The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5 NIV | “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 NIV |
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.”Proverbs 21:4 NIV | “Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”Proverbs 16:19 NIV |
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”” James 4:6 NIV | “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 NIV |
| “ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 NIV |
My devotion of this topic came from 1 Corinthians 4:7
“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
There are three questions Paul is asking in this verse, let’s ask these to us as we read them, If you get answers to these automatically you will feel humble and the pride in our heart will be removed
“For who makes you different from anyone else ?” 1 Corinth 4:7a
Pride here comes when we don’t credit God for any good thing.
We tend to satisfy ourself only after we make a comparison or differentiate against some one less than what we have.. E.g., Say your exam mark is 95%, you immediately compare that to how many got 95% and above or how many have got less.
Many times we say I am humble, remember pride comes when we fail to recognise that God is the source of our wisdom thru which you got 95% in the first place. The moment you realise this from your heart you will be humble and not brag on the accomplishment, as you realise the work what you did is not you, but the one who is in you that is God.
When you have this attitude to honour God first from what you accomplish, pride will never come into your life situation.
Always remember, It’s God who created you, he is the one who gives you the ability that you have, he is the one who gave you the family you have, he is the one who gave you the possessions you have, these are his blessings to you.
We reach the mistaken conclusion that whatever we value in our lives is from our own
How is your appearance?
Perhaps we pride ourselves on our appearance.
We may exercise and eat all the right foods, but that isn't the key.
While it is possible to enhance or neglect your appearance, God's Word reminds us that every part of our body was formed in our mother's womb before we were born 'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ' Psalms 139:13
How is your abilities?
You may say, My gift is the result of years of practice. Yes, we can capitalize on or let go the talents God has given us.
But James 1:17 reminds us that 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ' James 1:17
How is your possessions?
You may say "I've worked hard all of my life. That's why I have what I have."
Hard work is an important part of being successful, yet ultimately it is God who controls our financial destiny.
Job was righteous and one of the blessed man in God’s sight, he gives a living illustration of this truth. 'who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? ' Job 34:19
Simple logic - every good thing in life, beginning with the breath of life is ultimately a gift from God. And yet pride blinds us to such an obvious truth. That’s what Paul reminds us and asks us to think “For who makes you different from anyone else ?”
What do you have that you did not receive? 1 Corinth 4:7b
Grace is an essential part of God’s character. Grace is closely related to God’s benevolence, love, and mercy. Grace can be defined as “God’s favour toward the unworthy”
Think of this way, God’s standards are higher, we fall short of it every min we live in the world, but because of his Grace he says I will give you one more chance and gives the unworthy( many of us), many times he gives this one more, one more till we are at the last point of our life, his grace is abundant.
He showers his Grace to us
His Grace justifies us before a holy God (Romans 3:24).
His Grace provides us access to God, to communicate and fellowship with Him (Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 4:16).
His Grace grants us immeasurable spiritual riches (Proverbs 10:22; Ephesians 2:7).
His Grace helps us in our every need (Hebrews 4:16).
His Grace is the reason behind our every deliverance (Psalm 44:3–8; Hebrews 4:16).
His Grace preserves us, comforts, encourages, and strengthens us (2 Corinthians 13:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17; 2 Timothy 2:1).
Pride comes when we fail to accept the Grace that’s given to us by God.. Instead it is pride that competes with God’s grace to say, all that we have is out of one’s self-righteousness.
Humility comes to us the moment we recognise God’s mercy and Grace. This is what Paul explains well In 1 Corinth 15:10
Simple logic - We are powered by Grace of God on what we have accomplished, there is no reason to choose to be proud of what we have accomplished as its all God’s Grace that’s enabled to happen, That’s what Paul reminds us and asks us to think “What do you have that you did not receive?”
And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” 1 Corinth 4:7c
Paul continues to say if you have got everything from God’s grace, If God is the source of everything and only his grace provides us everything, why do we boast ?
The reason we boast or be prideful is because we live a life that’s filled with idols of life, there is no First place for God in what you do.
As we walk with God, God gives you and me, many of his gifts to use to his talent, we feel these are acquired by us and satan makes us forget that we received from God who is the source of this and forget to edify God. The moment we feel that way, Pride creeps in. We feel very high as we receive the blessings from God
Once you have pride you will not submit to God. Instead you submit to your flesh.
Paul is a great example we can emulate, he had been given so much spiritual gifts but he always was humble when he showed the fruits of his spiritual gifts and always edified God and glorified Him for what he was and what he did.
To avoid this boasting,Paul gives a best advice we quite miss. 'Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. ' Galatians 6:4-6
Test your action of pride by comparing what you do against yourself instead of comparing against someone else.
Every time you receive something new “should share all good things with their instructor.” (Jesus), why tell others what you have received. This will make you humble and a thankful heart to God.
Summary
Choose humility over pride because of these three reasons
Who you are and want you have is not from you, all these are from God, you did not create yourself, it’s God who created you. Have this attitude to make you humble.
Remember you don’t deserve to be in the place where you are. No matter how high you are currently and where you are is because of God’s abundant Grace.Be reminded that his grace has taken you this far, give glory to God for his grace and mercy.
Remember Paul’s advice to test your own action, to compare against yourself and not against another person , just try this for the sake of doing, you will realise how childish you are to brag / boast about what you have accomplished.
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