by Jeremy Paschall
Go back to Christian Character
Parents encourage their children to have self-confidence, and teachers labor diligently to build self-esteem in their students. Psychologists and psychiatrists make good money counseling people who have low opinions of themselves. We have almost come to expect politicians to have egos the size of Texas. Job-seekers are expected to fill their applications and resumes with lists of their talents, accomplishments, and ambitions of personal success. Our society seems to now be governed by a new “golden rule” — He that tooteth not his own horn, it shall not be tooted!
Pride and arrogance have become the norm. In fact, those who are not willing to boast about themselves and their abilities are often thought to have “issues” and are frequently challenged to think more highly of themselves. Is this a trend with which God is well-pleased? Allow me to remind you, “...that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15).
This fact cannot be disputed on this subject, for the Word of God speaks clearly. God does not value pride and arrogance; in fact, He sternly warns against it:
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” (Proverbs 16:18)
The nation of Judah refused to heed the Lord’s warnings against arrogance, and their pride was one reason for their downfall as a nation. The people of God became haughty, and God punished them for it (Isaiah 3:16-26). And during His earthly ministry, Jesus continued to sound forth a warning against pride as something which would defile a man (Mark 7:20-23").
But to the same extent that God condemns pride and arrogance, humility is praised by Him. By the Lord’s standard, one must be truly humble before he or she can be truly great:
“The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility… Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12)
Even Jesus’ disciples wrestled with this concept, debating among themselves and asking Jesus who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1"). Jesus brought a child before them and told them that they needed to develop the qualities of children (Matthew 18:2-3”). “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
Jesus Christ is, of course, the greatest example of this humility. Paul exhorted the Christians in Philippi to truly be Christ-like in this regard:
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
Simply stated, to be a Christian — a child of God through Jesus Christ — true humility is not an option. To truly be Christ-like, it is a requirement.