Proud or Humble

Scripture Reading: James 4:1-12, Luke 11:37-54, Galatians 1:10

We know the battle we see in today’s passage, don’t we? It feels familiar as we sit in a culture that elevates self and shouts, “Look at me!” This passage invites us to consider the hard question (yes, we’re cutting right to it today). What in our own lives do we elevate? And as a natural consequence, what do we lower?

We may know the tainted fruit that comes from befriending the world. We know what looks good on the outside can be rotten inside (Luke 11:39). We know pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). And as we choose what occupies our hearts and attention, we also know that our God “resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

The word for “proud” in verse 6 comes from a compound word in Greek, and the parts of the word can be translated “over” and “shine.” This can be a helpful illustration for how pride often plays out in our daily lives.

Where do we see “overshining” in our lives? On social media. In the headlines. In our own hearts. When we look at Scripture, we see these Pharisees who lived to be seen, focusing on their presentation. (Luke 11:39–40, 44). But this is not a new concept—pride in Scripture predates all of this, going back to the garden, where the serpent desired to be in the place of God.

And the enemy still uses this lure to tempt us and pull us from God. This is the type of battle James was addressing.

Just as the Greek word for “proud” brought us to the idea of overshining, behind the meaning of the Greek word for “humble” is the concept of remaining low or being lowly.

Our all-seeing, sovereign God sees our hearts. He knows what we choose to raise and lower, and what we elevate and emulate, James said, correlates with His resistance and grace (James 4:6).

Let’s hold tight then to the roadmap James offered, with its specific instructions for a humble heart: Submit to God. Draw near to Him. Cleanse our hands. Purify our hearts. Weep over what takes us from Him. And humble ourselves before God (James 4:7–10).

Every day, we can choose whether to please people or Christ (Galatians 1:10). We can choose to be a friend of the shiny world or a friend of our humble, grace-giving Savior. Let’s ask ourselves the question, Am I seeking to overshine or remain low?

May we raise God and lower ourselves, like Jesus did.

When we do, we gain what Jesus offers: We find rest (Matthew 11:29). And when we lower ourselves before Him, He is exalted.

Written by Marnie Hammar