God desires that His people operate in the virtue of humility. According to Unger, “Humility in the spiritual sense is an inwrought grace of the soul that allows one to think of himself no more highly than he ought to think.”[1] But humility is hard. It grates against our flesh, cuts through our pride, and calls us to live dependent when everything in us wants control. Pride was Satan’s original rebellion (Isa 14:13-14), and it became humanity’s downfall with the lie, “You will be like God” (Gen 3:5). That bent toward self—self-glory, self-will, self-reliance—didn’t vanish at salvation. It still lingers in the old sin nature (Rom 7:18-23), making humility a daily fight.
Humility is also difficult to maintain because it doesn’t call attention to itself. It doesn’t seek recognition or parade its virtue. As soon as we become proud of being humble, we’ve lost it. True humility isn’t thinking less of ourselves—it’s thinking of ourselves less (Phil 2:3-4). It quietly thrives when we are absorbed with God’s glory and the good of others rather than our own advancement.
Moreover, the world doesn’t reward humility—it exalts pride. Assertiveness, self-promotion, and platform-building are celebrated, while the quiet path of service is often overlooked. But God desires humility in us and commands it of us. Scripture says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… who humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:5, 8). That same humility was vividly displayed when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, willingly taking the role of a servant though He was their Lord and Master (John 13:13-14).
Humility, expressed by the Hebrew word ʿānāw, refers to a lowly, dependent spirit that trusts in God rather than self. Moses is called very humble (Num 12:3), not because he was weak, but because he submitted fully to God’s authority. The Lord treasures this virtue, saying, “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isa 66:2). Humility opens the heart to God’s instruction, grace, and favor—it is the soil in which spiritual growth takes root.
Humility, then, is not a one-time acquisition. It is a daily, conscious decision to bow before God and walk in dependence on Him. It’s hard because it’s contrary to our flesh, undervalued by the world, and always vulnerable to sabotage by our own ego. But it is precious in God’s sight and foundational to Christian maturity, for “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet 5:5).
I know this battle firsthand. Pride is my reflex—ugly, stubborn, always ready to speak first when humility is called for. It feels good in the moment but leaves damage in its wake. Humility, on the other hand, often hurts up front—but the reward follows. It doesn’t come naturally. I have to fight for it. Choose it. Trust that God honors it. And when humility governs my heart, I have the quiet confidence that I’m in step with His will, under His protection, and open to His blessing.
Dr. Steven R. Cook
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[1] Merrill Frederick Unger et al., The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988).