A Warning To Christians To Be Humble
How Do I Humble Myself?
Humility is not something we can achieve. We might consider it quintessentially American to think we could. You can do it. Be proactive. Take the first step. Grab the bull by the horns and be humble.
In other words, humble yourself by your own bootstraps.
But if we come to the Scriptures with such a mindset, we find ourselves in a different world. Genuine humility, as with true faith, is not self-help or a life hack, but a response to divine initiative and help.
God Opposes the Proud
Make no mistake, we do have a part to play in humility. It is not only an effect but a command. In particular, two apostles tell us to humble ourselves. And both do so in strikingly similar ways, adding the promise that God will exalt us on the other side:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10)
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:6)
“When trials come, will we bow up with pride, or bow down in humility?”
So far as we can tell, James and Peter haven’t been inspired by each other on this point, but by the Old Testament. In the immediate context of instructing us to humble ourselves, both quote the Greek translation of Proverbs 3:34 (“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). But before we run off to create our own program for self-humbling, we should consider the context in both passages..." from the article: How Do I Humble Myself?
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