What the Bible says
God speaks plainly about pride. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). Both James and Peter quote the same truth: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Pride sets a person against God Himself, while humility opens the door to His grace.
Pride forgets that everything is a gift. Paul asks, “what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). God tells us where boasting belongs: “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me” (Jeremiah 9:24). Paul had found it: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).
The cure for pride is the mind of Christ. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Though He was God, He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7), and “he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). He said, “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29), and He washed His disciples’ feet.
Humility is the posture of one who needs mercy. The publican “smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13), and he went home justified. “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The high and holy God dwells “with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). So, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).
14 verses, King James Version
Micah 6:8
Walk humbly with thy God
8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Luke 18:13–14
The humble publican went home justified
13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Jeremiah 9:23–24
Glory only in knowing the Lord
23Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Galatians 6:14
Glory in the cross alone
14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Philippians 2:3–8
The mind of Christ
3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
James 4:6
Grace for the humble
6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1 Peter 5:5–6
Humility before God and others
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Proverbs 16:18
Where pride leads
18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 11:2
Wisdom with the humble
2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Luke 14:11
The humble will be lifted up
11For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Romans 12:3
An honest view of yourself
3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1 Corinthians 4:7
Everything you have is a gift
7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Isaiah 57:15
The high God dwells with the lowly
15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
John 13:14–15
Jesus washed feet
14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.