Why is avoiding pride and seeking humility so important?

Matthew 18:4“So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

James 4:6As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5-6All of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Humility demonstrates true strength, for it reaches into the Kingdom of Heaven. Pride demonstrates true weakness, for it reaches no further than our own egos.

2 Kings 5:13-15His [Naaman’s] officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”

Luke 18:9-14Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Acts 16:29-31The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Humility is the first step toward wholeness. When we are humble, we become open to God’s correction and hungry for his work in our lives. And God will certainly fill that hunger!

Proverbs 18:12Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

Self-honor is no honor at all. In fact, pride leads to foolish behavior and heavy consequences.