Pride hates humility because it costs pride everything. Pride’s very nature is actually more antichrist than we realize. Humility is a Kingdom principle; pride is its antithesis. The price of humility is extremely high; yet, it’s the only way to reach unimaginable heights. It is a contrariety (quality of being contrary, logic contrary opposition): to go high, you have to get low. Before you can step up, you have to step down. To do the will of God, you may need to forgo your own. When you say, “Have Your way,” it may mean you don’t get your way; until of course, His will becomes yours. That’s called humility. You do realize that before God asks anything of you, He has already done it Himself. Psalm 113:5-6 Who is like the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth? In fact, He still does today; otherwise, He wouldn’t bother listening to your prayers.
Humility cost Jesus everything, including His very life. If He did not humble Himself, you would still be lost in your sin. 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. Humility benefits others before it benefits you. Without it, however, you will not experience joy. Hebrews 12:2 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Humility turns you into a servant, which is exactly what Jesus became, even though He is the King of kings (see Philippians 2:1-11). If you want to reign on earth as a king, you have to serve well. Jesus said, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12). The greatest in the Kingdom serve. Humility does that, and that might even mean doing things no one else will do. Interestingly, as a child of God, it may mean you that you serve while not being served. Yet, in order to be served, you have to humble yourself in order to allow another serve you. Of course, pride demands another serve. Humility on the other hand, allows others to serve, so they may use their gifts and experience the joy of serving others. Strangely, pride will refuse service from another because of the desire to be independent. Humility is very dependent; yet, without it, we cannot act independently from others.
Humility patiently waits. It does not demand things now; unless of course, being led for the sake of the Kingdom. A lot of times you will not see quick results of your humility. Obviously, you will not see the majority of the rewards God has for you until you’re home with Him. How many know that influence usually takes a long time to effect change? If the Lord sends you to a place to win souls and change culture, you more than likely are going to have to be there for a good while before seeing results. In some cases, you may never see many of them in your lifetime. Humility is more interested in the long term than recognition, which means it will also hand off the baton to another in the race it’s running. You might start a work, but not get to see it through to maturity or completion. It’s something we all have to be okay with, since humility recognizes that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. We are at His beck and call, and yet, He is there for us as well. In fact, more so than us. He is the Epitome of humility.
By humbling yourself, you may lose face in front of others. You may have to stand down. Jesus lost face before the entire world; in fact, He offered His face to be spit on and beaten for our sake. He was mocked and humiliated, even though He could have stopped it. He appeared weak. Humility is also meek by nature. It is strength and power under restraint. It makes us strong, because it’s in our weakness that Christ is strong in us. If one does not humble himself, he will never have the strength to do the work of the Kingdom of God. As a matter of fact, the works would be dead, with no eternal value or reward. Anything done out of pride fails to glorify God! Here’s a loaded question: what has the higher price, humility or pride?
