Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility exalts God and others at the expense of self. Pride is the essential vice, for it increases one’s hunger for all other sins. Humility increases one’s hunger for the forgiveness and healing found in Christ. The one who is proud demands to be served. The one who is humble is not content unless serving others. St. Augustine described it this way: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” As we see all Christ did to serve us, our hearts melt. Within us grows a Christ-like obsession to serve others, without counting the cost, without any desire to be repaid. Those who are in positions of Christian leadership understand that their leadership can only be achieved through service. For followers of Christ are humble servants.

Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility exalts God and others at the expense of self. Pride is the essential vice, for it increases one’s hunger for all other sins. Humility increases one’s hunger for the forgiveness and healing found in Christ. The one who is proud demands to be served. The one who is humble is not content unless serving others. St. Augustine described it this way: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” As we see all Christ did to serve us, our hearts melt. Within us grows a Christ-like obsession to serve others, without counting the cost, without any desire to be repaid. Those who are in positions of Christian leadership understand that their leadership can only be achieved through service. For followers of Christ are humble servants.

So often it may seem that all is lost. A cancer diagnosis, a relapse into addiction, the revelation of the unfaithfulness of a spouse, just the nightly news of the horrors and atrocities taking place throughout the world—it would appear the evil has this world by the throat and there is no hope of any real and lasting change. But nothing could be further from the truth. Through the cross and his resurrection Christ has won the battle with sin and death. The demons must and do submit to his authority. God give us the faith to trust that our risen and ascended Savior is ruling and controlling all things for the good of his people and of his church, even more, that everything is possible for the one who believes!

So often it may seem that all is lost. A cancer diagnosis, a relapse into addiction, the revelation of the unfaithfulness of a spouse, just the nightly news of the horrors and atrocities taking place throughout the world—it would appear the evil has this world by the throat and there is no hope of any real and lasting change. But nothing could be further from the truth. Through the cross and his resurrection Christ has won the battle with sin and death. The demons must and do submit to his authority. God give us the faith to trust that our risen and ascended Savior is ruling and controlling all things for the good of his people and of his church, even more, that everything is possible for the one who believes!

When the fires of the trials of life burn hard and long, our strength, our patience, our ability to endure, even our motivation begins to fade. Arrogance and pride can sneak in when things are going well for us. Or we can become cynical and embittered toward our struggles and difficulties. Where do we find the strength and the ability to finish strong and to finish well?

Godliness is a God-centered life. It grows, not through the pursuit of a process, but through the presence of a person. Jesus Christ is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). His presence in your life is your hope of becoming the person God calls you to be. Christ in you [is] the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Contentment is finding joy in what God has given to you. The opposite of contentment is greed which destroys your capacity to enjoy what God has given. Contentment is a Christian grace that grows over time. It does not come quickly, easily or naturally. Paul says “I have learned to be content” (Philippians 4:12). How did he learn it? He tells us “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content” (Philippians 4:12). He is saying: “There were times when I had plenty. But then God brought me to situations where I was ‘in need.’ And through that I learned something: I discovered the secret of being content.” God used the experience of loss to produce the good fruit of contentment in Paul’s life. Have you discovered the secret of being content?

What do you live for? God wants us to think big. Do we live for ourselves? Our desires? Our ambitions? Do we live for our career? Our relationships? Our family? Our friends? We live for the One who died for us. We live to glorify him. We live to give witness to his love to the people he has placed in our lives. In so doing we find fulfillment, meaning and joy because this is what we were created for. How we live, how we act, our attitudes, our reactions to hardships and life’s challenges—in all of these we have opportunity to glorify God. Let’s remember that God has put us where he wants us, and it’s our privilege to show other people who Jesus is and what he’s really like. For in the eternal scheme of things nothing else matters but the glory of God.

What do you live for? God wants us to think big. Do we live for ourselves? Our desires? Our ambitions? Do we live for our career? Our relationships? Our family? Our friends? We live for the One who died for us. We live to glorify him. We live to give witness to his love to the people he has placed in our lives. In so doing we find fulfillment, meaning and joy because this is what we were created for. How we live, how we act, our attitudes, our reactions to hardships and life’s challenges—in all of these we have opportunity to glorify God. Let’s remember that God has put us where he wants us, and it’s our privilege to show other people who Jesus is and what he’s really like. For in the eternal scheme of things nothing else matters but the glory of God.