Be Humble
Scripture Reading: James 4:6-10
But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Are you a humble person? A friend of mine used to joke about his humility. He would ask, “Have you read my books? Ten Great Men Who Knew Me, and Humility, and How I Attained It.” It made me laugh, but it also reminded me that we often misunderstand humility. True humility isn’t about being downcast or self-critical. It’s best captured in a simple definition: “Not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”
James ties humility closely to repentance. Often, pride prevents us from admitting our sins or facing them honestly. It’s easier to speak about sin in vague terms than to own up to our real actions and attitudes. True repentance—a brokenness before God about our sin—is a sign of humility. James isn’t saying we should live in sorrow all the time, but that we should have a heart willing to grieve over our sin and seek God’s forgiveness.
God offers abundant grace, but as James reminds us, that grace flows freely to the humble. When pride keeps us from acknowledging our weaknesses, we block the grace God so freely offers. Imagine God’s grace as a fountain. The only way to drink from it is by stooping low, in a position of humility.
So today, let's examine our hearts. Are we clinging to pride, or are we willing to humble ourselves before God? Because, as James assures us, when we do, God Himself will lift us up.
