The Key to Growth
Have you ever met someone that was just full of themselves? Scripture would call this pride. It’s such a turn-off. Prideful people have this repellant factor to them. You just don’t want to be around them. They talk about themselves too much. They brag about their accomplishments too much. They tell their stories too much. Overall they see themselves in a much better light than is reality.
In contrast, have you ever met someone who was humble? How refreshing! They’re a joy to be around. They’re interested in you. They ask questions and attentively listen to the answer. They desire to help. They desire to learn. They’re just pleasant to be around!
Scripture would teach us just how dangerous pride is. It says that God resists the proud (James 4:6). The word resist in Greek is way more intense than our English word “resist”. It means that God lines up in battle against the proud. If you want God actively fighting against you… be prideful.
If someone should have or could have been prideful in their intelligence or accomplishments it was Paul. But Paul grew in humility and you and I can as well! He starts by saying he’s the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9- 55AD), goes to the least of the saints (Ephesians 3:8- 60AD), and in ultimate humility calls himself the foremost sinner (1 Timothy 1:15- 64AD). Each of these verses was written later than the other. Paul kept getting lower, and God kept raising him higher.
Why is being humble such a better way to approach life? Let me give you four reasons:
#1 The humble GROW FASTER
The humble grow faster because they’re willing to listen to others and learn. The prideful, on the other hand, resist instruction and correction. If you want to grow at a faster pace, you’re going to have to grow in your humility.
#2 The humble EARN FAVOR
There’s just something attractive about a humble person. You like them. You want to be around them and you want to help them. In order to be promoted, receive a raise, etc, you’re going to have to have favor with people. Humility is how you earn it!
#3 The humble LEARN MORE
The humble learn more because they approach life as a student wanting to learn. You see a student approaches things with curiosity and asks questions. A student wants to understand. A teacher wants you to understand their point. A student wants to learn. A teacher wants to be right. A student looks for things to learn. A teacher looks for things to say. Take the humble road of a student, you’ll learn a lot more that way.
#4 The humble RECEIVE GRACE
God’s grace, or undeserved favor, rests on your life to the degree of your humility. If I want more of God’s grace active in my life then I have to grow my humility. Think about that… the God of the universe is offering to help you if you would just grow in your humility! I don’t know about you, but that sounds too good to pass up! I want more of God’s grace.
So where do you start? Start by repenting of pride and asking God to make you humble. From there pay attention to your attitude, your words, your actions. When you notice your pride turn from it and turn to humility. Take the humble road, it’s less crowded and it moves faster!