Opposite of Humility

“What is the opposite of Humility? What are some of the ways or attitudes in which we become prideful or arrogant?”  (Question taken from the Gathering Place, page 257.)  In response to this question, I found a few appropriate quotes (go figure) from C.S. Lewis.  In regards to the “opposite of humility,” I thought of pride and I found according to Lewis that in contrast to considering others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3), “pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man… It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition is gone, pride is gone.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity   When we keep a self-centered agenda, we cultivate pride and arrogance as an attitude.  It could manifest itself in things like self-indulgence instead of gracious generosity, swollen conceit instead of genuine concern for others, heartlessness instead of compassion, and seeking to please people over seeking to please God, but “The beautifully Fierce…” walk in confidence and humility that flow from the recognition of Christ’s work of grace in their life” (Kim Wagner).

Today, September 18, 2014 on Bible Gateway the “Verse of the Day” comes from Philippians 2:304 (AMP).   “Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.” According to the Word of God attitudes in which we become prideful or arrogant manifest themselves in the form of “contentiousness, strife, and selfishness” only to name a few.  Our remedy, in short, with our eyes on Jesus is to look out not only for our own good but also for the good of others.  “I was thinking recently that if I could identify one single attribute biblically that would be the supreme attitude of all attitudes, the most desirable from God’s view point would be humility” (John MacArthur) (The Gathering Place, page 35).

LORD Jesus, please forgive me for when I have considered myself more highly than I ought to.  Forgive me of pride.  Help me to recognize your work of grace in my life and to walk in confidence and humility.  I pray this for all of the women in the Gathering place bible study.  Increase our love for you.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Humility is Often Viewed as Weakness

The question on the table tonight is this, “It seems in our culture that humility is often viewed as weakness.  Do you agree or disagree?  Why?” (Question taken from the Gathering Place, page 257.)  My answer to this question is “agree.”  If I could simply define humility, I would define it as the words of Paul in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others as better than yourself” (NIV).  The realization of pride is found in the pervasive nature of vanity and the manifestation of swollen conceit.   It is pride and the love of self that considers humility weakness.  Pawns in the hand of the devil, those swollen with conceit see the inadequacies of the weak in their mind’s eye as a stepping stone. “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity ). Kim Wagner, author of Fierce woman: the power of a soft warrior, speaks of the destructively fierce woman as someone who “walks in arrogance and pride but is blind to her lack of humility.  She views meek behavior as a sign of weakness.  She sincerely believes her personal conflicts stem from others’ ineptness, lack of spirituality, or inferior behavior.”

“At the top of Paul’s description for godless [people] men is “love of self.” Rather than loving God and having Him be the center, men are going to continue to love themselves, and live arrogant, proud, pleasure-filled lives(2 Timothy 3:1-4). We live in a culture that says, “Live for yourself; its’ all about YOU!” So how can you and I be different? How can we determine to not allow our views, ideas, and concepts of God to be lower than they ought? I believe that before we can ever begin to see God for who He is, we must think rightly about ourselves. R.C. Sproul, in his book The Holiness of God, says it this way, “Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their significance, until they have contrasted themselves with the Majesty of God.” (The Gathering Place, page 34).

Dear Jesus, Your Word says that I am not to conform to the patterns of this world but that I am to be transformed by the power of Your Word.  Please keep me from turning to things that cultivate vanity in my heart.  Help me to keep my eyes on You through Your Word.  You died for me that I might live for you.  Help me not to think more highly of myself than I ought (Romans 12:1-4). In You, Amen.