I once read that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking about yourself less. I find that the times in my life when I struggle most with pride are not the times when I’m confident and satisfied in my accomplishments (thinking of myself) but rather when I’m focused on me, on what I want, or what I think I deserve. Pride manifests itself in all sorts of ways, but perhaps the most deadly are those ways that mask themselves in ministry and mission.
When I begin to focus on the forms of ministry that make me happy or fulfilled and then push to see others committed to “my” kind of ministry I am puffed up with pride. When I lose my focus on others and begin to focus on myself, I can become puffed up with pride. Realize the subtle danger here, the fires of my pride can even be stoked with a focus and commitment to personal spiritual disciplines at the expense of putting others before myself. I can become prideful in missions as I begin to compare my work to others who are not similarly called or committed. I can become puffed up in pride as I consider my abilities in ministry and judge others whose abilities and styles do not match mine.
Beware even of the attack of pride veiled as humility. When you feel the need to constantly tell others about all the work God is doing in your life, have you really stopped thinking about yourself? “You wouldn’t believe all that God is saying/doing/showing to ME,” can quickly become prideful. Even writing about humility can be a temptation to become prideful in my own grasp of the concept. Amos 6:8 urges us to walk “humbly” with God. Some translate this as walking circumspectly. The gist is that we should constantly be considering our heart, our attitude, and our actions toward God and in response to His work in our life.
Grow in humility by regularly considering your ways in light of God’s character and expectations. Our sins have separated us from our God, and yet in his grace, he has willingly welcomed us in through Christ. He has given us what we could not earn. Regular realization of our inability and Christ’s ultimate grace and power are pride-destroying practices. The gospel is the answer.
