Humility, unlike pride, does not come naturally to us. It must be deliberately 'put on' and added to our character through the power of God's Spirit and our consistent, conscious decisions to submit to Him. We choose humility because we love Him, seek to be like Him, and desire to glorify Him. Through this cooperation with God's power, humility is created within us, enabling us to grow stronger in overcoming pride and its destructive influences on relationships. Humility is a created attribute, not inherent from birth like pride, which arises from our exposure to evil influences in the world. Spiritual humility develops through our contact with the Father in heaven and our willing submission to Him. It is a clear command to humble ourselves, necessary because of the strong influence of pride within human nature. Choosing to humble ourselves is as much a command as resisting the devil, cleansing our hands, and purifying our hearts. Being humble, which leads to submission to God, is a deliberate choice that must be exercised. In the Old Testament, humility is often portrayed as a condition of being brought low by circumstances such as poverty or affliction, illustrating a spiritual attitude of dependence. In contrast, the New Testament presents humility as a deliberate act of controlling power for a greater good, exemplified by Jesus Christ. He, though possessing immense power, took on a servant's approach rather than a ruler's, showing that humility is not weakness but a strength that promotes good relationships by neutralizing pride. Humility stems from a genuine self-evaluation, where one deems himself worthless in relation to God and His truth, recognizing total dependence on Him for every breath and spiritual need. It requires honest comparison to God's spiritual qualities, revealing our utter destitution of virtues valuable to eternal life and our inability to become like Him without His help. This poverty of spirit, the foundation of humility, is the opposite of pride's arrogance and self-sufficiency. Through humility, we clearly see and appreciate our complete dependence on God, both physically and spiritually. It is the fruit of realizing we are nothing in our own eyes, positioning us face down in the dust before Him. God stoops to lift up those who approach Him with this attitude, granting grace to the humble. Humility destroys pride as we grow in it, shaping us into beings like Him and providing the right basis for living by faith. Affliction and impending doom can also promote humility, pushing us to cry out to God and submit to Him. When we humble ourselves, positive effects follow, including honor and blessings from God. If we make brutally honest comparisons between ourselves and His character, holiness, and righteousness, recognizing how far beneath Him we are, we will bow before Him and submit. Through this, spiritual wealth accrues to us as He hears and lifts us up.

Humility is the key to fostering unity among brethren and countering the destructive nature of pride and competition. As James 4:6 states, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, indicating that we must put on humility to overcome conflicts arising from lust, coveting, and misplaced priorities. Pride drives us to elevate ourselves above others, leading to wars and disputes, while humility allows us to esteem others better than ourselves, as urged in Philippians 2:3-4. Paul emphasizes in Ephesians 4:1-3 that we should walk in lowliness and gentleness, bearing with one another in love and longsuffering to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. By putting on humility, we root out selfish ambition and conceit, focusing not only on our own interests but also on the needs of others. This approach helps us avoid destructive competition and fosters a spirit of patience, allowing time and space for others to grow and overcome challenges. Ultimately, humility enables us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, as Philippians 2:12 advises, without murmuring or disputing, shining as blameless and harmless children of God in a competitive world.