By Mark Maher
Are you walking on the path of pride or the path of humility? The default is pride and it’s subtle, so we need good Christian counsel or to ask God for help us recognize whether we are on the path of pride or humility. It’s as if you need to be steered back to the path of humility often because it’s easy to drift into pride.
Are you helping yourself or helping others? Do you always have to be right or are you open to learning? Do you tend to self preserve or do you step out in faith?
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, HUMILITY, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
“Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23) Walking in humility is really the pathway to finding God’s grace and walking in His purpose. We have to check our pride. It can easily grow into self-righteousness, judgmental spirit, and even a complaining, grumbling spirit.
Humility reminds us that we should be grateful for life. I’m not sure how we got on this planet, but I’m grateful. I’m grateful for the opportunity. Humility is the state of appreciation and gratefulness rather than entitlement. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Rick Warren
Humility is the path we want to walk on to avoid the path of pride. You’ll have to be intentional to walk the path of humility. “Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected.” (Proverbs 22:24-25 MSG)
We have to recognize when we are walking on the path of pride. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:6)
We are not God, careful of self righteousness, careful of my way being the only way. Only Christ knows the true path, and the more I learn, the more I realize that I don’t know much. “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)
You have to be deeply reflective and often check yourself to make sure you’re not walking the path of pride. It’s not a one and done reflection, it’s a constant check, to remain gentle, kind, and humble.
Is the spirit of judgment creeping in? Am I starting to think I know too much? Am I not listening well to others? Am I not getting around others? Am I putting relationships first and foremost and loving people? Do I value and honor others?
In the world of seeking our identity, why can’t it be enough to just find our identity in Christ? Why do we try to find it in so many other things? You’ll have to ask yourself what you’re making your God besides God. Is it the news? Is it grief? Is it in a job or a hobby? Is it another person?
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” (Philippians 2:3) The goal is to be more like Christ, less of me. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30)
