If We’ve Only Got One Life…

Humility vs. Pride

 Some notes from Driscoll’s sermon a few weeks ago, “The Rebel’s Guide To Joy In Humility.”

1. Pride is our greatest enemy.  Humility is our greatest friend.

2. Pride, in its origin and practice, is demonic and Satanic (Satan’s pride was the first sin).  Humility is Christ-like and Spirit-enabled.  Any human being who has any measure of humility is a miracle.

3. Pride is the encouragement to compare ourselves to other people.  We tend to pick people who are less than us.  Humility is continually comparing ourselves to Jesus.  If you struggle with pride, compare yourself to Jesus and that will help.

4. Pride covets the success of other people.  When they succeed, we become jealous.  This is why we critique them.  Humility allows us to celebrate the success of other people and the grace God has displayed.

5. Pride is about me…. about what I deserve.  Humility is about Jesus, and it’s about other people.  It allows people to be selfless.

6. Pride is about my glory – who I am, what I’ve done, do you like me?  do you want to be like me?  Humility is about the glory of Jesus – who is Jesus, what has he done, do you want to be like him?

7. Pride is “I am God”.  Humility is not about being God but about celebrating the fact that the real God has lovingly served me.

8. Pride leads to arrogance/cockiness/smugness, and is repugnant.  And leads to rejection of truth/teaching.  Humility leads to confidence (in truth), NOT compromise (of truth).

9. The point of pride is independence (look at Satan, look at our sin).  Humility is about dependence – acknowledging that we are created, God is creator, and we are dependent on God for everything.

10. “Pride is the mother of all sin” – Augustine.  Therefore, conversely, humility is the mother of all Joy.

11. Pride is something that we can achieve in this lifetime.  Humility is something we must continually pursue – it isn’t something we achieve fully.  Can’t say, “I am proud to report that I am now humble.”  Can say, “By God’s grace, I am a proud person pursuing humility.”