Humility

Humility is a Christlike attribute many people struggle with. Some have a difficult time avoiding pride, which is the opposite of humility, while others mistake self-degradation or lack of confidence as a manifestation of humility. Neither of these truly encompass the essence of this Christlike attribute. So what is humility, how do we practice it, and why is it important? Thankfully, God has provided us with guidance on how to increase our humility without knocking us down.

The Church missionary manual Preach My Gospel defines humility as the “willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished. It includes gratitude for His blessings and acknowledgement of your constant need for His divine help” (p. 128). When we remember that the Lord is responsible for all the good things in our life, we come that much closer toward developing humility.

Humility does not mean degrading oneself until one has no confidence remaining, and it does not mean simply sitting around waiting for God to act in one’s life. It does, however, mean that one reaches out to God and does his or her best to do what He would have that person do. Humility involves trust that God’s plan is the best thing for you, even when you may be excited about something different. Pushing away revelation to do something different is an example of pride, which is the opposite of humility.

Pride is trusting in ourselves and our own decisions more than we trust in God. When we become prideful, we sometimes unwillingly push God out of our lives. He will not force us to listen to Him, so we must be careful to ensure that we are humble enough to accept whatever He has to offer us. This collection of talks deals with humility and warns us against pride, giving helpful advice on how to develop this Christlike attribute.