Humility: Trusting God and Keeping Pride in Check

Pride is a subtle and destructive force that can easily take root in our hearts, especially in a culture that prizes self-promotion and entitlement. Yet, the call of God is clear: we are to be clothed with humility, allowing it to permeate every aspect of our lives. Humility is not just an attitude but a way of living that shapes how we relate to others, how we respond to authority, and how we view ourselves before God. It is seen in our willingness to submit, to take advice, and to recognize that our achievements and positions are not ultimately of our own making, but are gifts from the Lord.

True humility is not about thinking less of ourselves, but about thinking of ourselves less. It is about trusting God with the timing of our rewards and recognition, knowing that He exalts the humble in His own perfect time—whether in this life or the next. The world tells us to fight for our own glory, but the way of Christ is to trust that God sees, God knows, and God will reward faithfulness in His way and in His time.

Humility also means casting our cares upon God, recognizing our own limitations and inadequacies. It is an act of faith to admit that we cannot do everything ourselves and to rely on the One who cares for us deeply. This dependence on God is not a license for laziness, but a posture of heart that acknowledges our need for His help and grace in all things.

We must also be vigilant, for pride is one of the enemy’s favorite tools to bring us down. The devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to devour those who let their guard down and begin to believe their own hype. The antidote is to keep our pride in check by focusing on Christ, resisting the lies of the enemy, and remembering that apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Finally, humility is rooted in the conviction that all glory belongs to God. When we remember that it is God who gives grace, who calls, who strengthens, and who deserves all honor, we are freed from the need to seek our own recognition. Our lives become a testimony to His greatness, not our own. In this way, humility is not a single act, but a lifelong pursuit—a way of living that points others to Christ and gives Him all the glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Humility trusts God’s timing for reward Humility is cultivated when we trust God to exalt and reward us in His own time, whether in this life or the next. This trust frees us from the anxiety of self-promotion and the need for immediate recognition. It allows us to focus on faithfulness rather than fame, knowing that God’s timing is always perfect and His rewards are eternal. [09:29]
• 2. Humility seeks God’s help, recognizing our limits True humility is seen when we cast our cares upon God, admitting our own inadequacies and inabilities. This posture of dependence is not weakness, but strength—because it acknowledges that God is able where we are not. When we humbly seek His help, we experience His grace and care in profound ways, and our worries are replaced by His peace. [14:10]
• 3. Humility rejects Satan’s lies and keeps pride in check The enemy often uses pride to deceive us, making us believe we are self-sufficient or superior. Humility is maintained by resisting these lies, staying steadfast in faith, and remembering our true dependence on God. When we keep our pride in check, we guard ourselves from spiritual downfall and remain open to God’s transforming work. [26:52]
• 4. Humility gives all glory to God At the heart of humility is the conviction that all glory belongs to God, not to ourselves. When we live for His honor rather than our own, we are freed from the need for recognition and can serve with joy, even if we are misunderstood or overlooked. This perspective keeps our hearts aligned with God’s purposes and magnifies Christ in all we do. [34:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:22] - The Danger of Pride: An Airport Story
• [04:54] - Clothed with Humility: What It Means
• [06:20] - Humility and Self-Promotion in Culture
• [07:18] - Trusting God’s Timing for Exaltation
• [09:29] - Humility in This Life and the Next
• [11:43] - A Testimony of Humble Faithfulness
• [14:10] - Casting Our Cares: Humility in Dependence
• [16:47] - Confidence and Humility: Not Opposites
• [18:39] - The Source of True Humility
• [20:24] - The Door of Humility
• [21:37] - Posture of Humility in Daily Life
• [23:57] - The Enemy’s Tactic: Pride
• [26:52] - Resisting Pride, Focusing on Christ
• [29:23] - Staying Humble in Everyday Life
• [31:17] - Life’s Frailty and the Need for Humility
• [33:35] - God of All Grace: The Ultimate Focus
• [34:52] - All Glory to God
• [36:39] - Living Out True Biblical Humility

Bible Reading

1 Peter 5:5-11 (NKJV) — 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 Peter 5:5, what does it mean to be “clothed with humility,” and how does God respond to the proud versus the humble? [02:22]
2. In verse 6, what does Peter say will happen if we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand? [07:18]
3. What does verse 7 tell us to do with our anxieties, and what reason does Peter give for this instruction? [14:10]
4. How does Peter describe the devil’s activity in verse 8, and what are believers told to do in response? [23:57]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon described humility as not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. How does this understanding of humility challenge common ideas about self-worth and confidence? [16:47]
2. Why do you think Peter connects humility with submitting to authority and being willing to take advice, even when we think we are right? [02:22]
3. The passage warns that pride is a tool the enemy uses to bring us down. In what ways can pride make us vulnerable to spiritual attack or downfall? [26:52]
4. The sermon says that humility is rooted in the conviction that all glory belongs to God. How does this perspective change the way we view our achievements and recognition? [34:52]

Application Questions

1. The sermon gave examples of people who trusted God’s timing for recognition and reward, rather than seeking their own glory. Is there an area in your life where you are tempted to promote yourself or seek immediate recognition? What would it look like to trust God’s timing instead? [09:29]
2. Verse 7 tells us to cast all our cares on God because He cares for us. What is one specific worry or burden you are carrying right now that you need to give to God? What is stopping you from doing so? [14:10]
3. The pastor shared a story about a woman at the airport whose pride led to her downfall. Can you think of a time when pride got the better of you or someone you know? What were the consequences? [02:22]
4. The sermon mentioned that humility is shown in our willingness to submit, take advice, and recognize our limits. Is there someone in your life (a parent, boss, leader, or friend) whose advice or authority you find hard to accept? What would it look like to approach that relationship with humility? [02:22]
5. The enemy uses pride to deceive us into thinking we are self-sufficient. Are there areas where you are relying on your own strength instead of God’s help? How can you shift your posture to one of dependence on God this week? [26:52]
6. The sermon said that humility is a lifelong pursuit and not just a single act. What is one practical step you can take this week to cultivate humility in your daily life? [36:39]
7. When was the last time you gave God the glory for something good in your life, rather than taking the credit yourself? How can you make it a habit to point others to Christ instead of yourself? [34:52]