“I’m sorry.” These two words often get stuck in our throats and leave us gasping for air. Isn’t it interesting that we often avoid the actions that are for our greatest benefit? Okay, maybe you are an expert in apologies; what about “I was wrong”? Why is it so difficult to admit our errors? Whether small or big, we find great distress in confessing our faults one to another. Could it be that our healing is delayed due to our calloused, pride-riddled hearts?
HUMILITY CARRIES ITS OWN ARMOUR
“But what if I’m not wrong?” Humility does not obsess over retaliation and self-defence because it carries its own armour. Apologies are merely the tip of the iceberg; let’s delve deeper. When that relative or loved one provokes you to anger, can you stop a quarrel before it starts? When that coworker or client tries to ‘draw you out,’ are you able to respond with calmness, grace, and tact? When you are on the receiving end of a host of unjust accusations or deliberate jabs at your character, can you turn the other cheek as Jesus commanded? Or, will you give them a colourful and unfiltered piece of your mind? Will you go to extreme lengths just to prove that you are in the right and they were wrong all along?
The truth is, when pride is alive and raging in us, humility is smothered. “Pride goes before a fall and a haughty spirit towards destruction, but with humility and fear of the Lord are riches, honour, and life.” What could be the culprit for the destruction of self-confidence, health, and many relationships? Pride. Thanks be to God, the antidote is not out of our reach.
THE ANTIDOTE: DEATH TO SELF
Death, though daunting, is also an antidote. As Christians, we are now dead to sins, including pride. We are encouraged to die daily, and no wonder, because dead people do not have the capacity to fight foes, retaliate, or defend themselves. They have no witty retorts, curt responses, or sharp rebuttals. In fact, they have no need for defences; they cannot be hurt or harmed because they are dead. As we die daily, we surrender our desires for vengeance to Christ, as scripture reminds us, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” Does this mean that we become the proverbial walkover? Absolutely not. Even so, what if they walk all over us? Do we consider ourselves so superior to everyone else that we cannot bear the thought of being humbled or trampled?
In light of this, scripture reminds us that we have no inherent superiority. Ezekiel 15:2 poses a question, “Son of man, how is the wood of the vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest?” The sooner we realise that there is nothing in us that is worthy of glory, the sooner we would understand God’s heart. He is the vine, and we are merely branches. One branch is not superior nor inferior to another, because we have no life of ourselves. Our existence is utterly dependent on the Vine, which is Christ. With this humbling knowledge, we understand that it is unnecessary to seek our own glory, and by extension, it is unnecessary to laud our perceived superiority over our fellow men. We can therefore take heart, even when mistreated. We can also safely admit our errors, knowing that it doesn’t detract from our sense of worth, which is found in Christ and not in prideful self-inflation.
WHO SHALL ASCEND?
Finally, who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto an idol. Pride sculpts a graven image of ourselves and eagerly mounts it on the pedestal of our hearts. Our jealous God will shatter all such idols in like manner as Dagon was destroyed before the ark of the Lord (1 Samuel 5) in scripture. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled.” (Matthew 23:12 AMP).
Rest assured that you can be victorious over pride because Jesus can enable you to choose humility through the help of the Holy Spirit (James 4:6 AMP). As we fellowship with the Holy Spirit through the study of scriptures and time in prayer and meditation on Christ, we will be empowered to walk in humility before God and our fellow men.
Gabrielle Wright is a member of the Youth S.O.U.L. team. Remember to tune in to Youth S.O.U.L. on TBC radio each Friday at 6 p.m. You may also stream via online radio platforms.