God opposes the proud. 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
Humility is a unique challenge for two groups of people:
1. For people with great success.
If you’ve built a business or worked your way up a career ladder, it is hard to be humble. If you have earned multiple degrees, if you have artistic gifts, or you are good at sports, it is hard to be humble.
If your children have been successful or you have grown in your faith, it is hard to be humble. Humility is hard for successful people.
2. For people with high moral principles.
Pride is the besetting sin of people with high moral principles. This means that it is a major problem for evangelicals.
Jesus told a story about two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee—he carefully followed the Old Testament. He had high moral principles, but he lacked humility. The other was a publican (a tax collector)—his life was a moral mess, but he saw that he needed the mercy of God. Jesus said that the publican, and not the other man, went home justified.
If humility is difficult for people with great success and people with high moral principles, then it will be extremely difficult for folks like us.
Would you say that humility is a unique challenge for you? Why or why not?
