I recently heard of a powerful man who is described as humble. He is very influential, elected to an office that holds authority over more than a billion people. Those people look to him, daily, for spiritual and practical guidance. This man certainly has earned the right to be proud of his accomplishment and to bask in the glory of his position. However, when elected, he behaved differently than expected - differently than men who had held the office previously. He did not lay claim to the accouterments of his powerful office, but behaved with humility.

The Bible contrasts humility with pride.
Proverbs 11:2 ESV "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Psalm 25:9 ESV "He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way."
Proverbs 29:22-24 NLT "Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor."

Philippians 2:6-8 describes Jesus, who was in very nature Almighty God the Creator. Jesus could do as He pleased. He had ten thousand angels at His command. He could take a few small loaves of bread and a couple fish and generate enough food to feed thousands. He had authority over life and death and nature. He healed the sick, raised the dead and calmed storms with a word.

Yet, He left His heavenly throne to come to earth in the form of a simple man. He humbled himself all the way to death on the cross, for the benefit of others.

The Bible instructs followers of Jesus - Christians - to imitate Him. I am not humble. When left to myself, and things are going my way, I am quick to become prideful. Philippians 2 tells me to direct my attention away from myself and to consider others of more importance. I should not only concern myself with my own interests but also the interests of others. In my human nature, I may even become proud when I am successful at imitating Jesus � until I read that it is God working in me that is giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13) In His grace, He gives me the ability to follow Him.

"They that know God will be humble, and they that know themselves cannot be proud." (attributed to John Flavel, English clergyman of the 1600's)

To grow into a truly humble person, get to know God. The more we know of Him, the clearer picture we have of ourselves and we find that He is completely powerful and that we are completely ineffective without Him.