Proud: having, proceeding from, or showing a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, or superiority.
Humble: having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience; low in rank, importance, status, quality.
Two very different words. Antonyms actually. One, God opposes. The other He gives grace. Where do you want to stand?
When it comes to being a Christian, it is very clear where we should all be. This verse from Proverbs (3:23 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble) is repeated two other times in scripture. That alone tells you how highly God thinks of this concept.
What is it about pride that is so hard to control? We all love those moments where we are given credit for a job well done. It is how we handle them that counts. Puff up your chest, smile and take all the credit and you fail in the eyes of God. Say a simple "Thank you, God has really blessed me in this area" (or something equally appropriate to the situation) and you have a entirely different story.
God deserves all the credit. We are His hands and feet. Simple. That is all there it to it.
Hopefully, I can remember this next time I feel like I have done a great job, or the next time I want to do something super special or creative just because I want people to think highly of me (this is the area where my pride issues are attacked the most).
James 4:10 hits it home, "Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." It is in the very end where the recognition really counts. The only One we need to be proud of us is the One who enables us to do it in the first place.
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