Humility Before God in a World Obsessed With Success

Identity Beyond Earthly Accomplishments

We often define ourselves by our accomplishments. When someone asks you to tell them a little about yourself, what do we think of first? Often we talk about an important position we have held in a company, or perhaps a physical accomplishment, or maybe an award we have won. But how should we really define ourselves? By our relationship to God.

A job interview may require us to talk about our accomplishments but when we think about ourselves and answer that question, "Who am I really?" our response to ourselves should always be, "I am a follower of Jesus, a new creation in Christ, and God's child." Whatever we have accomplished is by the grace of God. It is very interesting that God doesn't judge our worth by our accomplishments. In fact, God purposely uses people who seem to have no worldly value to do His will.

Why God Uses the Humble and Weak

Are you small, weak, or insignificant? Do people seem to look past you and not even see you? Well, God sees you. He sees your heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Paul knows this to be true and explains,

“​And He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,” 1 Corinthians 1:28

But why? Why does God choose those with no power or influence to spread His word? Because they recognize that it is God working through them that accomplishes His will, not their own intelligence, influence, or power (Judges 7:2). God delights in humility because humility recognizes dependence upon Him, while pride seeks glory for self. The humble understand that every good thing comes from God, and for that reason God often chooses those the world overlooks so that people will know who truly accomplished the work.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, sings in Luke 1:52,

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.”

And in Luke 18:14 Jesus tells us that the humble will be exalted and the exalted humbled. In God's design the world is upside down (Acts 17:6). It is the proud that God opposes, but the humble receive grace (James 4:6). Those who rely on God and not themselves are lifted up by Him. Paul calls us in Philippians 2:5-8 to "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Jesus came as a humble servant and asks the same of us. But pride is not a small flaw in God's eyes. It is a direct challenge to His authority and glory.

Humility Before God and the Danger of Pride

Pride, the sin of Lucifer who wanted to place himself above God, is an abomination to God. It literally disgusts God. A prideful person thinks they have no need of God. They boast of their good life and accomplishments as though God had almost nothing to do with it. But God knows differently.

Later in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians he says that God's power is displayed most fully in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). No one can go before God and say, "Look what I have done." Look at the many examples from Scripture.

In the Old Testament, God chose Moses, a fugitive shepherd with a speech impediment, to become the deliverer of a nation (Exodus 3-4). Abraham, a wandering nomad, became the father of many nations (Genesis 12:1-3). In the New Testament, Jesus' mother was a humble village girl (Luke 1:48,52) and the disciples were fishermen and tax collectors (Acts 4:13). Who would normally pick such people to spread a new faith around the world? God would.

Today, never think you are so unimportant that God cannot use you in His service. Maybe you are the person people feel comfortable talking with. Maybe you can be an encourager. Perhaps you are the one who can repair the broken things at church or cook the meals for the sick. We never know how God can use us.

Consider Gladys Aylward, a simple English parlor maid in the 1930s. Rejected by a mission board for lacking education and polish, she trusted God’s call anyway. She worked and saved until she could buy a one-way ticket to China. There, God used her to care for the hurting, share the gospel, and heroically lead over a hundred orphaned children to safety during war. She often felt unqualified, but she was willing and that was enough. God made her capable for what He called her to do, equipping her for every task He placed before her.

The most important gift we have is willingness. We should be willing to trust God, step out of our comfort zone, and do something we never thought we were able to do. It is God who makes us capable. It is He that we serve. Do you have a servant's heart? But maybe we think we aren't prideful when really we are.

How Hidden Pride Reveals Itself

Pride often reveals itself in ways we do not immediately recognize. We might do well to give some thought to how we act. Do we desperately seek validation from others? Do we talk too much about ourselves? Maybe it's difficult for us to accept constructive criticism. Perhaps we are critical of others but fail to see our own mistakes. Do we treat people who have nothing to offer us as if they have no value? Without repentance and change though the prideful will go to ruin, maybe not in this life but the time will come.

Nebuchadnezzar and the Destruction of Pride

The Bible tells the story of one man whose pride led him to ruin and finally to repentance. In Daniel 4, the prophet interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Daniel informs the king that because of his great pride and boastfulness in his kingdom he would become ill and act like an animal eating grass on all fours. Some have compared this behavior to a rare psychiatric condition. He would no longer rule his kingdom.

Daniel begged the king to repent, but he would not. And so it happened as Daniel said that it would. After a period of time God restored the king's mental faculties and his kingdom. Even pagan records speak of the King's absence and eventual return. At this point King Nebuchadnezzar realizes his sin and repents. In Daniel 4:37 he says,

"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down."

These stories continue into the New Testament. In Acts 12:21-23 we read about Herod Agrippa's pride and refusal to acknowledge God. He was "eaten by worms." The famous story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14 teaches that pride makes it impossible to be justified before God. The warnings against pride are throughout the Bible and even though we may not be a king or a religious leader they are for us today just as they were for them.

God Gives Grace to the Humble

So how much time have you spent answering the question, "Who are you?" Are you comfortable with your answer? Don't let your life be defined solely by pride in your work or even by pride in your family. We can recognize arrogance easily in others but not so easily in ourselves. But humility has a special reward.

When we are humble, God delights in us and dwells with us. His grace is given to those who serve Him with humility. Without it how could we ever see our need for a Savior?

Dear Father,

Thank you for loving me, a sinner saved by your grace. Father, walk with me and show me your ways. Help me to see how you want me to be of service to You. Above all, remove any pride that remains in me and let me see you as my sole source of everything that is good.

In your Son's name,

Amen