Humble yourself.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:8-11
With people, sometimes the proud are allowed to exalt themselves, but this never happens with God. In the end, everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled. Scripture repeatedly tells us that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” There are numerous examples of that, psalms and proverbs about it, and Jesus’ own teachings and illustrations such as His story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Pride is the complete anti-God state of mind. It is the primary sin of Satan. C.S. Lewis called it “the cardinal sin.” It is insidious and deceptive.
The root of pride often comes from comparing ourselves with others. If we are going to compare ourselves with anything else, it needs to be with God Himself and His standards. That will lead us to humility and to dependence on God and worship of God and gratitude to Him.
