Humility vs. Pride

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 Humility can be a difficult concept for us to grasp. It is often thought of as being weak or spineless, but that is the wrong definition of humility. A fitting example of humility can be found in the responsiveness of a strong horse to the gentle tug of its rider on the reins. When the horse was acquired, it may have been a wild bronco, but it has been trained and now gladly responds to its master’s care and guidance. The Bible describes proud people as “stiff-necked” and “willful”. They demand their own way, which focuses on their selfish purposes of success, pleasure, and approval. In His kindness, God allows difficulties into our lives to train us, not to harm us, but to tame the selfishness in our hearts. As long as we buck, we fight against God and His gracious purposes for us, but when we finally give in and accept His leadership in our lives, we experience more encouragement, strength, freedom, and joy than ever imagined. The “freedom” of the proud is an illusion. Rebellion ultimately results in shattered dreams and shattered lives. But a “broken and contrite heart”, one that is open to God’s discipline and leading, experiences the true riches of His grace. Would you say you have you been tamed, are being tamed, or are still running wild? Do you see God resisting your pride or giving you grace? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com