Humility is beneficial in every area and every relationship of our life; the most important of which being our relationship with our Father. But even if that were not the case, this warning from Scripture is more than enough reason to pursue humility. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) Just the thought of the Creator of the universe opposing (actively working against) us should absolutely terrify us!
Our sinful, human nature is proud, selfish, self-seeking, self-righteous, self- sufficient (or so we think). By grace we understand our deep need for humility and more grace. A proud Christian is an oxymoron.
May The Lord grant us more grace. And let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1Pet 5:6) and trust Him to choose who, when, and how He lifts up.
1 Peter 5:5-7 ESV — [5] Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
James 4:1-10 ESV — [1] What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? [2] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. [4] You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [5] Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? [6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Romans 12:1-3 ESV — [1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [3] For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.