If you’ve ever taken an interest in any celebrities, you might notice that some can come across as a little self-absorbed… Maybe you follow someone on social media whose life seems a little too large to be true?

We can all have a tendency to want to be seen as great, or at least be seen! And the ways in which we present ourselves often have an underlying drive to be seen as perhaps more than we actually are.

Our pride is usually to blame, and the Bible has something to say about this: “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” James 4:6 (NIV)

Compare that to the common attitude of today. We’re taught to empower ourselves above others, and to find pride in ourselves, and yet the Bible tells us to do almost the opposite.

Which do you think is right? If you’re unsure, try to think of somebody you know who shows humility & gratitude often. Now compare them to the person you thought of at the start. Who do you think is a “better” or happier person? Who is living a more fulfilling life?

It’s clear in the Bible that God certainly sees the value in a humble person. 1 Peter 5:6 reads “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (NIV)

If God sees humility as such a good thing, we have to ask, why? Humility is a way to remind us that what we have is enough. It’s a way to be constantly conscious of our strengths and weaknesses, and to reflect on how we can better ourselves – instead of thinking about how we are already better than other people. 

God likes humility because it’s a way we can recognise and show others and ourselves that He is in control, not us.

Naveen V & Ryan A