Pride and Humility | How to choose God’s path – Galatians 6:1-5

Topic: Pride and Humility

Reading: Galatians 6:1-5

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each man will have to bear his own load.

Introduction and Overview

There is a fine line between pride and humility. It is easy to be caught in a trap of pride when we have done something good or positive. The issues of pride and humility are especially problematic for those who are called into the service of the Lord. But it is also an issue for all who come to Christ, and trying to balance these two can be seen in these words today.

Any time we do something good, or we do a work for the Lord, there is the temptation of pride. Seeing our efforts help others can be a source of pride. It can inflate our ego, making us think we are better than we truly are. It can even lead some to boasting and arrogance. Paul makes this point in these words.

There are two types of pride and two types of boasting. The Greek uses two different words for boasting. One is a positive word, but the other is negative. The first may show the type of pride we may have for our children when they do well. Likewise, it could be the pride we have for our brethren when they overcome a particular problem as they grow in Christ. This type of pride and boasting can also show humility because the focus is on the achievements of someone else.

But the other type of pride and boasting is negative. It is prideful boasting where the focus is on ourselves. We may have done the same works and helped others in the same way as above, but we boast in ourselves. We take the credit for ourselves, rather than giving credit to those who have overcome, and more importantly, giving credit to God. This is the pride that leads to arrogance rather than humility. It is deceitful and destructive because it sets us up to believe we are better than others. Such pride is not the way of God, as the following verse shows us.

3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:3-8)

The Lord taught us about pride and humility. It is the humble and the meek who will inherit God’s kingdom. But the proud and arrogant will lose everything. Pride and humility are important matters for Christians, and too often we see the negative aspect of pride in churches. Leaders especially must be aware of this because to be a leader in Christ is to serve others. Leaders in Christ do not receive or take, they give.

Key points from reading:

• We need to help to restore our brethren if they have been caught up in any form of trespass
• We must not be prideful but do everything from a place of humility
• We need to test ourselves to ensure we are holding true to the faith and not falling to the temptation of pride

Discussion:

1. Scripture: Galatians 6:1 – Restoration after temptation
   • We are told in the scriptures that temptations are sure to come (See Luke 17:1). We all suffer temptations and there are many times when we succumb to those temptations. So too, our brothers and sisters in the Lord will do the same. Part of the maturity we gain in Christ Jesus as we walk with Him is to learn how to overcome sin and temptations. But especially in the early stages of our walk, it can be difficult. And not just in the early stages as Christians at all stages of their walk in Christ will be tempted. What we learn through growth in the word and the power of the Holy Spirit is how to deal with temptations and overcome.
   • As part of a church we need to be ready to help restore those who have fallen to temptations. And likewise we would hope that our brethren would help to restore us when we fall or fail. We must remember that part of the reason why the church exists is to encourage and strengthen one another, as the scripture says:
     • 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some (Hebrews 10:23-25)
   • Part of the purpose of meeting together as a body in the church is to encourage and strengthen one another. But we must not let pride get in the way when we do come together, especially when someone is suffering from temptation. Instead, in humility we ought to help them through the issue, strengthen them, show them the love of God and brotherly love, lift them up when they stumble spiritually, and bring them back to the Lord.
   • This is where pride and humility comes into play. When we do assist others, do so out of humility and gentleness for their benefit and strengthening. And if we are able to help them, be thankful and give thanks that they are restored by the grace of God. We should not fall to the temptation of pride thinking how good we are that we could help. Instead consider how good God is that He helped and accepted the fallen person in His compassion, mercy, and grace. Boast of God’s work, not our own because without God, nothing is achievable.
2. Scripture: Galatians 6:2 – Share one another’s burdens
   • Life in this world can be difficult for anyone, but especially those who come to Christ. It is a challenge for Christians because we stand in opposition to the ways of the world that are filled with sin and evil. The morality of this world has declined to the point where they call evil good, and good evil.
   • Because of this we will all be burdened from time to time. This section is particularly focusing on the burdens of temptation, but there may be many other burdens too.
   • As a church and members of the body of Christ, we are called to help one another. We need to share our burdens with each other so we can grow and be strong. We are called to care for each other, and especially our brothers and sisters in the Lord. One person standing alone can be knocked about and mercilessly attacked by the devil. But when we stand in the church, united in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we stand strong.
3. Scripture: Galatians 6:3 – Pride and humility
   • As we work together in the church we need to always consider who is in charge. Jesus Christ is the head f the church. We all play some part in the church, but it is always Christ at the head. This is how we must think so that issues of pride and humility are kept in perspective.
   • We can be thankful for what the Lord is doing among the brethren. But we must not consider that we are better than anyone else in the body. It is the work of the Lord through the Holy Spirit that the church is being built. When we succumb to pride, thinking we are better than others in the church, then we fall to the oldest temptation in existence. The devil fell from heaven and God’s presence because of pride, and he is the father of the proud and arrogant. Our desire is to be like Christ in humility, no like the pride of the devil.
   • Always consider the needs of others above your own. Never think that you are better than anyone else. You are where you are only by the grace of God. And even though God has accepted you into His family and His church, He can also kick you out if you walk in pride. There are many examples of great men of the faith who have been caught up in their own self-importance and have been disciplined by God. Some have had their ministries destroyed because of their pride. They became shysters and money grubbing thieves, using the word of God as a means to become wealthy. Their pride overtook their original humility when the church was established. So, be wary and be careful to always seek to walk in humility, regardless of where God leads you and what He does with you in ministry or in life. The temptation of pride is always close at hand to those blessed by the Lord, and we must not allow it to take hold. In humility remember that we exist and do what we do only through the grace of God.
4. Scripture: Galatians 6:4-5 – Test yourselves in pride and humility
   • Pride and humility are opposed to one another. But one can easily slip into pride without even realising it sometimes. It can sneak up on us without warning. We may do some good or help someone out, and pride can find a way into our hearts if we consider we are responsible for a good outcome.
   • Whatever happens in our life or the lives of our brethren, God is in control. He is the one directing our lives. And when He uses us to assist others, we must give Him the thanks and the glory for the positive outcomes. We are just instruments of His mercy and grace. And there are many scriptures suggesting this same approach, like these:
     • So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ (Luke 17:10)
       
       And;
       
       5 What then is Apol’los? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apol’los watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)
   • Our duty as Christians is to do what we can to hep others, especially our brethren. Pride and humility are important because how we do the work of the Lord is important. The attitude of this verse shows us that whatever we do, we are doing only what is expected of us in Christ. It is no cause for pride in ourselves, but we can be proud of the work the Lord has done for those who were helped or saved. We can be thankful for what He is doing in His church. And we can give God the glory for the work He is doing among His people.
   • But we give the credit to God, where it is due. We may do the work, but it is God who gives the growth. We are just labourers, working in God’s field for the improvement, encouragement, and strength of His people. So, in humility let us always give God the glory in all things and never take the glory for ourselves. The first is humility bu the second is pride.

Prayer Points:

• Pray to God for help regarding pride and humility. Pray and ask the Lord to show you how to reject the pride that may come, and assist you to walk in humility as a servant of Christ, always remembering that it is you who rely upon and live for Christ, not the other way around.
• Pray for the ability to help your fellow brethren when the need arises if they fall into temptation. Be prepared at all times to strengthen and encourage one another.
• If you are standing alone and outside of a church, pray to the Lord seeking a church where you can find good brethren and the people of the Lord. It is the will of God that we come together as a church because it is in the church setting that we can and should find refuge, strength, encouragement, growth, and the love of God.