Pride and Humility

by J. C. Ryle

Humility may well be called the 'queen of the Christian graces'. To know our own sinfulness and weakness, and to feel our need of Christ, is the very beginning of saving religion.

Humility is a grace which has always been the distinguishing feature in the character of the holiest saints in every age. Abraham, and Moses, and Job, and David, and Daniel, and Paul—were all eminently humble men. Humility is a grace within the reach of every true Christian.

Would we know the root and spring of humility? One word describes it. The root of humility is right knowledge. The man who really knows . . . himself—and his own heart; God—and His infinite majesty and holiness; Christ—and the price at which he was redeemed; that man will never be a proud man!

He will count himself, like Jacob, "unworthy of the least of all God's mercies!"

He will say of himself, like Job, "I am vile!"

He will cry, like Paul, "I am chief of sinners!"

Ignorance! nothing but sheer ignorance! ignorance . . . of self, of God, of Christ, is the real secret of pride! From that miserable self-ignorance may we daily pray to be delivered!

He is the wise man who knows himself! And he who knows himself, will find nothing within to make him proud.

-----

Excerpt from J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Luke" 1858 in Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (eBook)

By Topic

Joy

By Scripture

Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

New Testament

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

By Author

Latest Links