4 You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. 5 Or do you suppose that scripture is meaningless? Doesn’t God long for our faithfulness in the life he has given to us? 6 But he gives us more grace. This is why it says, God stands against the proud, but favors the humble. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Cry out in sorrow, mourn, and weep! Let your laughter become mourning and your joy become sadness. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:4-10, CEB)
This passage always reminds me of the song Humble thy self…
Humble thy self in the sight of the Lord,
Humble thy self in the sight of the Lord,
And God will lift you up, higher and higher,
And God shall lift you up.
if we are humble and not proud about what we have done, then God will lift us up. We will be noticed by God for the things we do, and God will be pleased. Not that we have to do works or things to get God’s favor, we already have that, but God created us to do good works here and now so that all will come to know God’s love.
So stand against the proud and be humble.