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Humility: True Greatness
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —1 Peter 5:5 A battle rages within every one of us every day. It’s the clash between our sense of stubborn self-sufficiency and God’s call to recognize that we’re really nothing without Him. It’s pride versus humility. And it’s a fight we can’t win without looking repeatedly to Christ and the cross. C. J. Mahaney raises a battle cry to daily, diligently, and deliberately weaken our greatest enemy (pride) and cultivate our greatest friend (humility). His thorough examination clarifies misconceptions, revealing the truth about why God detests pride and turns His active attention to the humble. Because pride is never passive, defeating it demands an intentional attack. The blessing that follows is God’s abundant favor. “This is the one to whom I will he who is humble and contrite in spirit.” —Isaiah 66:2, ESV God clearly states that He is drawn to the humble. He’s also clear that He opposes the proud. These two, humility and pride, cannot coexist. Where one is fostered, the other is defeated. Which will you pursue? When you acknowledge the deception of pride and intentionally humble yourself, you become free to savor abundant mercies and unlikely graces. You will find a new life is yours—a life God richly favors. A God-glorifying life you don’t want to miss.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2005
427 people are currently reading
8321 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Mahaney
38 books193 followersC.J. Mahaney leads Sovereign Grace Ministries in its mission to establish and support local churches. He spent 27 years pastoring Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
He currently co-hosts the Together for the Gospel conference with Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan and Albert Mohler and serves on the Council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and on the boards of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation.
He currently co-hosts the Together for the Gospel conference with Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan and Albert Mohler and serves on the Council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and on the boards of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 483 reviews
October 6, 2019
It's now impossible to read this book without being aware of C.J. Mahaney's current troubles with Sovereign Grace Ministries. After a 600+ page document outed him and his ministry over disturbing practices, he's taken a leave of absence to "re-assess" himself. The main word for his troubles: pride. So it's with a strange retrospect that I went through his seminal work on humility.
The book, it must be said, is a strong work on its subject. But I felt two distinct undercurrents like fissures in his work: a low sense of God's authority and a tall order of legalism.
Both these problems feed into each other. The biblical truth of humility is to know more and more of God's glory. This is the shortest section of the book and it is written poorly with shallow theology. The main bulk of the book is written with methods on humility. Therein is the root of pride: when you enlist methods to be humble, it can cause you to think you're more humble than you are. Then humility is "up to me," which demeans God's authority, and there begins a vicious cycle.
So let's say we follow Mahaney's method of "listening to Scripture on audio during our commute to work." Then someone at work accuses you of pride. But you say, "No way man, I listened to the Bible on the way here." In essence you have bought your humility. That's hands down legalism.
I can see how Mahaney fooled himself into thinking he was humble. That's the major (and not so obvious) slippery slope here. Whether Mahaney and his ministry were outed or not: any similar "advice" on humility is already self-defeating.
Yet there is valuable wisdom here, particularly with the focus solely on God. God is absolutely opposed to the proud. He gives grace to the humble. We don't think of how drastic that Scripture really is. Mahaney begins to take flight when he emphasizes this, but alas he skims over this too quickly. Had he spent more time here, it would've been humbling indeed.
Bottom line: Read with discernment. Doing Christian things will not make you a Christian nor humble. But Mahaney speaks enough truth here to recommend to those who struggle with pride.
The book, it must be said, is a strong work on its subject. But I felt two distinct undercurrents like fissures in his work: a low sense of God's authority and a tall order of legalism.
Both these problems feed into each other. The biblical truth of humility is to know more and more of God's glory. This is the shortest section of the book and it is written poorly with shallow theology. The main bulk of the book is written with methods on humility. Therein is the root of pride: when you enlist methods to be humble, it can cause you to think you're more humble than you are. Then humility is "up to me," which demeans God's authority, and there begins a vicious cycle.
So let's say we follow Mahaney's method of "listening to Scripture on audio during our commute to work." Then someone at work accuses you of pride. But you say, "No way man, I listened to the Bible on the way here." In essence you have bought your humility. That's hands down legalism.
I can see how Mahaney fooled himself into thinking he was humble. That's the major (and not so obvious) slippery slope here. Whether Mahaney and his ministry were outed or not: any similar "advice" on humility is already self-defeating.
Yet there is valuable wisdom here, particularly with the focus solely on God. God is absolutely opposed to the proud. He gives grace to the humble. We don't think of how drastic that Scripture really is. Mahaney begins to take flight when he emphasizes this, but alas he skims over this too quickly. Had he spent more time here, it would've been humbling indeed.
Bottom line: Read with discernment. Doing Christian things will not make you a Christian nor humble. But Mahaney speaks enough truth here to recommend to those who struggle with pride.
February 20, 2012
I'm going to hazard a guess that the people you respect most in life are humble. Understated, encouraging, gracious individuals can't seem to fly under the radar as much as they'd like because people are drawn to them. They're the best leaders, servants, friends, spouses, and parents.
The book is divided into three parts.
C.J. Mahaney defines what humility is and isn't in the first part of the book, makes a case for Christ being the humble answer to sinful pride in the second, and gives strategy on the pursuit of true humility in the last part.
His question is not if you have pride, it's where it exists, and how it's being expressed in your life. That's because at the root of all sin is pride -- when human beings aspire to God's status and refuse to acknowledge their dependence on Him. Mahaney drives home a desperate NEED for a cross-centered life by pointing out Jesus' ransom -- a divine rescue for an undeserving people -- and the patient way he responded to many forms of pride in the Gospels.
I had a "Is this me?" moment when I came to a passage the described life without Christ's ransom. "You would be self-sufficient, seeking to cultivate self-confidence for the purpose of self-glorification." Ouch. But luckily for me, Mahaney also had some good advice that I'll pass on.
1.) Reflect on the wonders of the cross
2.) Admit dependence on God every day
3.) Study the attributes of God (it will give you a healthy view of who you are compared to who He is.)
4.) Grace leave no room for self-congratulation, so embrace it.
5.) Laugh!
6.) Thankfulness=being more aware of grace than my sin.
7.) Correction and intentional accountability will keep you from being hardened, but give you a chance to be encouraged and encourage others in loving God and others.
As a closing note, one of my favorite parts was Mahaney's note that sleep is a beautiful picture of how helpless we are. Every single day, we accept God's gift of sleep and our dependence on him to face the next day --- His mercies are new every morning.
The book is divided into three parts.
C.J. Mahaney defines what humility is and isn't in the first part of the book, makes a case for Christ being the humble answer to sinful pride in the second, and gives strategy on the pursuit of true humility in the last part.
His question is not if you have pride, it's where it exists, and how it's being expressed in your life. That's because at the root of all sin is pride -- when human beings aspire to God's status and refuse to acknowledge their dependence on Him. Mahaney drives home a desperate NEED for a cross-centered life by pointing out Jesus' ransom -- a divine rescue for an undeserving people -- and the patient way he responded to many forms of pride in the Gospels.
I had a "Is this me?" moment when I came to a passage the described life without Christ's ransom. "You would be self-sufficient, seeking to cultivate self-confidence for the purpose of self-glorification." Ouch. But luckily for me, Mahaney also had some good advice that I'll pass on.
1.) Reflect on the wonders of the cross
2.) Admit dependence on God every day
3.) Study the attributes of God (it will give you a healthy view of who you are compared to who He is.)
4.) Grace leave no room for self-congratulation, so embrace it.
5.) Laugh!
6.) Thankfulness=being more aware of grace than my sin.
7.) Correction and intentional accountability will keep you from being hardened, but give you a chance to be encouraged and encourage others in loving God and others.
As a closing note, one of my favorite parts was Mahaney's note that sleep is a beautiful picture of how helpless we are. Every single day, we accept God's gift of sleep and our dependence on him to face the next day --- His mercies are new every morning.
June 18, 2012
This book is a great resource that provides biblical and practical instruction and motivation on how to weaken pride and cultivate humility. I highly recommend this book as it is very timely and relevant to our prideful society. This was a much needed read for me, and it will continue to be a favored book in the future!
Here is a list of suggestions from the book on how to weaken pride and cultivate humility.
Always do this:
- Reflect on the wonder of the cross of Christ.
As each day begins:
- Begin your day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for God.
- Begin your day expressing gratefulness to God.
- Practice the spiritual disciplines--prayer, study of God's Word, worship. Do this consistently each day and at the day's outset, if possible.
- Seize your commute time to memorize and meditate on Scripture.
- Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
As each day ends:
- At the end of the day, transfer the glory to God.
- Before going to sleep, receive this gift of sleep from God and acknowledge His purpose for sleep.
For special focus:
- Study the attributes of God.
- Study the doctrines of grace.
- Study the doctrine of sin.
- Acknowledge what you lack skills in.
- Laugh often, and laugh often at yourself.
Throughout your days and weeks:
- Identify evidences of grace in others.
- Encourage and serve others each and every day.
- Invite and pursue correction.
- Respond humbly to trials.
Here is a list of suggestions from the book on how to weaken pride and cultivate humility.
Always do this:
- Reflect on the wonder of the cross of Christ.
As each day begins:
- Begin your day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for God.
- Begin your day expressing gratefulness to God.
- Practice the spiritual disciplines--prayer, study of God's Word, worship. Do this consistently each day and at the day's outset, if possible.
- Seize your commute time to memorize and meditate on Scripture.
- Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
As each day ends:
- At the end of the day, transfer the glory to God.
- Before going to sleep, receive this gift of sleep from God and acknowledge His purpose for sleep.
For special focus:
- Study the attributes of God.
- Study the doctrines of grace.
- Study the doctrine of sin.
- Acknowledge what you lack skills in.
- Laugh often, and laugh often at yourself.
Throughout your days and weeks:
- Identify evidences of grace in others.
- Encourage and serve others each and every day.
- Invite and pursue correction.
- Respond humbly to trials.
May 16, 2016
This is a short but powerful book. We all battle with pride.
We should read this book several times each year. He gives good practical tips on how to kill pride and become more humble. (For example, compare yourself to Christ. Compared to him you have to be humble.). He uses a lot of Bible verses and personal experiences to get his points across.
At the end of the book, he summarizes the book by listing 17 things that we should do to help us become more humble. We need to work on these things our entire lives.
We should read this book several times each year. He gives good practical tips on how to kill pride and become more humble. (For example, compare yourself to Christ. Compared to him you have to be humble.). He uses a lot of Bible verses and personal experiences to get his points across.
At the end of the book, he summarizes the book by listing 17 things that we should do to help us become more humble. We need to work on these things our entire lives.
March 12, 2022
most of my favorite parts were just direct quotations from john stott and john owen... also some applications were really stretching it in my opinion. like does getting a good night’s rest really help you kill pride and grow in humility? playing golf??? seriously???
January 23, 2023
A simple & practical read that was extremely convicting & helpful.
“Tell Him you want to declare war on pride in your life—that you want to declare war in this active, daily tendency toward self-sufficiency, this desire to live independently of Him when in truth we’re totally dependent on Him for every breath. Gladly announce and declare your dependence!”
I deeply desire this to be true of me and I feel this book gave me practical ways to move towards this—needing Jesus’ help every step of the way of course.
“Tell Him you want to declare war on pride in your life—that you want to declare war in this active, daily tendency toward self-sufficiency, this desire to live independently of Him when in truth we’re totally dependent on Him for every breath. Gladly announce and declare your dependence!”
I deeply desire this to be true of me and I feel this book gave me practical ways to move towards this—needing Jesus’ help every step of the way of course.
April 25, 2023
CJ Mahaney does a great job on this simple book on how we are to cultivate humility and mortify pride. It’s a great reminder to be humble in a culture that celebrates pride in a lot of areas. I enjoyed reading this book and I think every Christian should read it. It will convict you and you will grow in your sanctification as a result of it.
June 25, 2016
This book gave some amazing perspective on what humility is.
C.J Mahaney is a great communicator of the Gospel. I loved the way he prefaces the book by stating that he needs to grow in humility just as much as the next person.
He also does a great job and helping the reader point out how pride can hide in many areas of life and have practical ways to not only spot it but fight it.
Along with the practical ways of fighting for humility he helps the reader desire a heart for humility in light of the Gospel.
Great book and I highly recommend it.
C.J Mahaney is a great communicator of the Gospel. I loved the way he prefaces the book by stating that he needs to grow in humility just as much as the next person.
He also does a great job and helping the reader point out how pride can hide in many areas of life and have practical ways to not only spot it but fight it.
Along with the practical ways of fighting for humility he helps the reader desire a heart for humility in light of the Gospel.
Great book and I highly recommend it.
August 30, 2012
Although good, for some reason this just isn't my favorite book on the subject. There were some helpful illustrations but I have found the Puritan writings on this topic more meaningful & exposing. I expect books on this topic to have somewhat of a branding iron effect on me & this one didn't quite hit the target. Don't highly recommend it.
December 26, 2021
This is a very practical and approachable short read on how Jesus defines greatness: humility. I was really blessed by it and will definitely want to read it again!
September 7, 2025
So good for the soul. Christ centered and practical to help grow in humility
March 29, 2022
Great book on humility. I especially liked the chapter on ending each day glorifying God and thanking Him for his grace that day. If we’re not able to see the evidences of grace in our own lives and the lives of others and can only see the sin/negatives, we might be blind to an area of pride.
I also liked the practical chapters on our words, being open to confrontation, and having humility in suffering. (I listened to the audiobook).
I also liked the practical chapters on our words, being open to confrontation, and having humility in suffering. (I listened to the audiobook).
February 22, 2021
Practical and challenging and the perfect length for the content.
May 4, 2023
I have very few books on this subject. Perhaps the reason why is the reason the author starts this book. In his introduction he states, "If I met someone presuming to have something to say about humility, automatically I'd think him unqualified to speak on the subject." However, he follows that statement up with this one which endeared my heart to him right away: "I'm a proud man pursuing humility by the grace of God. I don't write as an authority on humility; I write as a fellow pilgrim walking with you on the path set for us by our humble Savior." Amen!
Humility for the Christian is a life-long pursuit. There is not one of us, this side of heaven, that has mastered it. Why? Because pride, humility's foe, wraps its tentacles around hidden vestiges in our heart, soul, & mind. And often, we cannot even detect the pride that remains right there in our lives. The author has an excellent chapter to help root out that pride. It involves inviting others into our life for detection and correction. This is something that many Christians (and most Christian leaders that I know) do not do well.
This is a book I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Personally, this is an issue I wish I was better at. With God's grace, there will be a greater humility in my life with less pride as I get older. The principles in this book will help you on that journey.
Here are a few of the nuggets (and there were many) I came across while reading this short book.
"Humility gets God's attention...Humility draws the gaze of our Sovereign God." p. 19
"Contrary to popular and false belief, it's not 'those who help themselves' whom God helps; it's those who humble themselves." p. 21
"Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." p. 22
"So many human ventures, so many grand designs of mankind, have been undermined because humility was lacking on the part of those involved." p. 24
"The real issue here is not if pride exists in your heart; it's where pride exists and how pride is being expressed in your life." p. 29
"From God's perspective, pride seems to be the most serious sin. From my study, I'm convinced there's nothing God hates more than this. God righteously hates all sin, of course, but biblical evidence abounds for the conclusion that there's no sin more offensive to Him than pride." p. 30
"Pride takes innumerable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That's the motive and ultimate purpose of pride-to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contending for supremacy with Him. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive." p. 32
"'Pride ruins pastors and churches more than any other thing,' Mike Renihan has written. 'It is more insidious in the church than radon in the home.' When you read about the next public figure to fall, remember Proverbs 16:18-'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.' That person's situation might appear circumstantially complicated, but at root it's not complicated: Pride goes before a fall." p. 35
"As sinfully and culturally defined, pursuing greatness looks like this: Individuals motivated by self-interest, self- indulgence, and a false sense of self-sufficiency pursue selfish ambition for the purpose of self-glorification." p. 44
"Sin - including especially the sin of pride - is active, not passive...From the moment I awake, I've learned to make statements to God about my dependence upon God, and in this way I'm humbling myself before God." p. 69
"An ungrateful person is a proud person. If I'm ungrateful, I'm arrogant. And if I'm arrogant, I need to remember God doesn't sympathize with me in that arrogance; He is opposed to the proud." p. 71
"I've found that it's possible for me to charge into my day motivated by self-sufficiency. But I've also learned that the very act of opening my Bible to read and turning my heart and mind to prayer makes a statement that I need God." p. 72
"Where there's worry, where there's anxiousness, pride is at the root of it. When I am experiencing anxiety, the root issue is that I'm trying to be self-sufficient. I'm acting independent of God." p. 75
"John Owen writes, 'There are two things that are suited to humble the souls of men...A due consideration of God, and then of ourselves. Of God, in his greatness, glory, holiness, power, majesty and authority; of ourselves, in our mean, abject and sinful condition.'" p. 92
"It's the very nature of sin to be deceitful. Sin is subtle and difficult to discern, especially the sin of pride. and it has a gradual hardening effect on the soul." p. 93
"Are you frequently critical of others? Do you look at those around you only to find one blemish after another? This proud tendency is a deeply rooted habit for many of us who have sown seeds of self-exaltation over the years." p. 98
"Only those who are humble can consistently identify evidences of grace in others who need adjustment. It's something the proud and the self-righteous are incapable of." p. 100
"To effectively encourage or edify a person I must know something about that individual, which comes through studying that person, asking questions, and carefully listening." p. 115
"In my experience, where there's an absence of edifying words there's also normally the presence of pride and of self-righteousness, because those who are proud are too preoccupied with themselves and think too highly of themselves to care about building others up or to be sensitive to their true needs. It's the humble who are perceptive; they're skilled in discerning the work of God in others because they care about others and want to serve others." p. 121
"Sin in its deceptive power so often blinds us, leaving us unaware of flaws that others notice clearly." p. 123
"Without others' help to see myself clearly, I'll listen to my own arguments, believe my own lies, and buy into my own delusions. I'll forget God's warning: 'The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.' (Proverbs 12:15)." p. 128
"You can't effectively watch yourself by yourself; you need the discerning eyes of others." p. 129
"Mere knowledge of Scripture is not the pinnacle; it's only the prelude to active obedience, and that's all that ultimately counts." p. 131
"There's no pastoral privilege in relation to sin. There's no ministry exemption from the opposition of the flesh. There's only a heightened responsibility to oppose sin and to weaken the flesh, as an example to the flock." p. 133
"Never forget that other see what you do not...others can exhort you, encourage you, and correct you. They are a gift from God in your battle against sin. And you never grow out of this need. Never." p. 133
Humility for the Christian is a life-long pursuit. There is not one of us, this side of heaven, that has mastered it. Why? Because pride, humility's foe, wraps its tentacles around hidden vestiges in our heart, soul, & mind. And often, we cannot even detect the pride that remains right there in our lives. The author has an excellent chapter to help root out that pride. It involves inviting others into our life for detection and correction. This is something that many Christians (and most Christian leaders that I know) do not do well.
This is a book I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Personally, this is an issue I wish I was better at. With God's grace, there will be a greater humility in my life with less pride as I get older. The principles in this book will help you on that journey.
Here are a few of the nuggets (and there were many) I came across while reading this short book.
"Humility gets God's attention...Humility draws the gaze of our Sovereign God." p. 19
"Contrary to popular and false belief, it's not 'those who help themselves' whom God helps; it's those who humble themselves." p. 21
"Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." p. 22
"So many human ventures, so many grand designs of mankind, have been undermined because humility was lacking on the part of those involved." p. 24
"The real issue here is not if pride exists in your heart; it's where pride exists and how pride is being expressed in your life." p. 29
"From God's perspective, pride seems to be the most serious sin. From my study, I'm convinced there's nothing God hates more than this. God righteously hates all sin, of course, but biblical evidence abounds for the conclusion that there's no sin more offensive to Him than pride." p. 30
"Pride takes innumerable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That's the motive and ultimate purpose of pride-to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contending for supremacy with Him. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive." p. 32
"'Pride ruins pastors and churches more than any other thing,' Mike Renihan has written. 'It is more insidious in the church than radon in the home.' When you read about the next public figure to fall, remember Proverbs 16:18-'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.' That person's situation might appear circumstantially complicated, but at root it's not complicated: Pride goes before a fall." p. 35
"As sinfully and culturally defined, pursuing greatness looks like this: Individuals motivated by self-interest, self- indulgence, and a false sense of self-sufficiency pursue selfish ambition for the purpose of self-glorification." p. 44
"Sin - including especially the sin of pride - is active, not passive...From the moment I awake, I've learned to make statements to God about my dependence upon God, and in this way I'm humbling myself before God." p. 69
"An ungrateful person is a proud person. If I'm ungrateful, I'm arrogant. And if I'm arrogant, I need to remember God doesn't sympathize with me in that arrogance; He is opposed to the proud." p. 71
"I've found that it's possible for me to charge into my day motivated by self-sufficiency. But I've also learned that the very act of opening my Bible to read and turning my heart and mind to prayer makes a statement that I need God." p. 72
"Where there's worry, where there's anxiousness, pride is at the root of it. When I am experiencing anxiety, the root issue is that I'm trying to be self-sufficient. I'm acting independent of God." p. 75
"John Owen writes, 'There are two things that are suited to humble the souls of men...A due consideration of God, and then of ourselves. Of God, in his greatness, glory, holiness, power, majesty and authority; of ourselves, in our mean, abject and sinful condition.'" p. 92
"It's the very nature of sin to be deceitful. Sin is subtle and difficult to discern, especially the sin of pride. and it has a gradual hardening effect on the soul." p. 93
"Are you frequently critical of others? Do you look at those around you only to find one blemish after another? This proud tendency is a deeply rooted habit for many of us who have sown seeds of self-exaltation over the years." p. 98
"Only those who are humble can consistently identify evidences of grace in others who need adjustment. It's something the proud and the self-righteous are incapable of." p. 100
"To effectively encourage or edify a person I must know something about that individual, which comes through studying that person, asking questions, and carefully listening." p. 115
"In my experience, where there's an absence of edifying words there's also normally the presence of pride and of self-righteousness, because those who are proud are too preoccupied with themselves and think too highly of themselves to care about building others up or to be sensitive to their true needs. It's the humble who are perceptive; they're skilled in discerning the work of God in others because they care about others and want to serve others." p. 121
"Sin in its deceptive power so often blinds us, leaving us unaware of flaws that others notice clearly." p. 123
"Without others' help to see myself clearly, I'll listen to my own arguments, believe my own lies, and buy into my own delusions. I'll forget God's warning: 'The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.' (Proverbs 12:15)." p. 128
"You can't effectively watch yourself by yourself; you need the discerning eyes of others." p. 129
"Mere knowledge of Scripture is not the pinnacle; it's only the prelude to active obedience, and that's all that ultimately counts." p. 131
"There's no pastoral privilege in relation to sin. There's no ministry exemption from the opposition of the flesh. There's only a heightened responsibility to oppose sin and to weaken the flesh, as an example to the flock." p. 133
"Never forget that other see what you do not...others can exhort you, encourage you, and correct you. They are a gift from God in your battle against sin. And you never grow out of this need. Never." p. 133
June 6, 2012
Started out strong, but lost momentum when he started to describe the practical application.
September 25, 2015
Bom livro! Merece destaque o capítulo sobre a importância da humildade em meio ao sofrimento.
March 10, 2018
This book is so important. One that everyone should read.
February 27, 2024
Well, since I am already perfectly humble, this book wasn't for me. Just kidding. We are all prideful, and CJ Mahaney does a great job explaining the ways pride manifests itself in our lives. He then provides many practical ways to fight pride and other sins that come from it, all of which are rooted in Scripture. I appreciated that he acknowledges that we have a responsibility to fight sin ourselves, but that is only possible through the work of God in our lives. He handled the intersection of those truths really well. In one of the last chapters, he uses Habakkuk as an example of what fighting pride looks like. He explains that a shift in our mindset around suffering is required in order to live life acknowledging God's sovereignty and our status before Him as His creation. Overall, the book is fantastic, and I hope that as I apply some of the points Mahaney made that I can fight my own pride with God's help.
June 2, 2025
This book was AMAZING and honestly helped me grow so much! This book helped me see a new perspective of humility and gave practical ways to grow in humility through habits! I love how the author writes this book and would recommend it to anyone!
July 11, 2021
Powerful and practical.
April 21, 2023
Practical and convicting all at the same time, C.J. Mahaney wonderful explains how humility should look in the life of a believer. Starting with the basics and the foundation for our humility, Mahaney then moves on to talk about how a believer can practically live our humility in his or her daily life. I remember reading this book when I was in high school and it was even more convicting for me to read it today then it was then. I highly recommend this book.
June 28, 2025
A must read! Read it more than once.
August 17, 2025
Should be required for every pastoral internship.
October 31, 2024
I loved reading this book. It was full of practical truths and helpful application. The author was honest and I know this book has helped me in my walk with God.
I would read again.
I would read again.
December 30, 2024
Fire. Glad I have this on my bookshelf cause I will be reading it multiple times again in the future. Easy enough to read, gives a really good focus and perspective on humility and something I wanna practice more, highly recommend.
June 14, 2021
I enjoyed this book because it not only reminded me that I am proud and embracing that truth alone engenders humility, but because CJ Mahaney keeps pointing back to the hope we have in Christ. He has already set us free from our slavery to all sin, but even in our ongoing battle with sin-- even with MY ongoing battle with pride-- there is hope in Christ's power to keep transforming my sinful heart. I really appreciated the long list of practical ways to weaken the sin of pride like meditating on the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for me. Also the suggested mental disciplines at the beginning and end of the day are helpful and practical to remind me of my dependence on Him, and God's sovereign power over everything I face. Of course most of this is obvious, yet I needed the convicting reminder because of my blindness to my own sin and the distracted nature of my heart. One final thing that I am really trying to take to heart is that God intends for us to kill the sin of pride in the context of community. I know that must start with me in my small group this week, enlisting the help of other believers in my struggle, if I want to help build a culture of humility in my own church.
May 7, 2018
I recommend that all Christians read this short book. It is easy-to-read and so helpful for challenging pride in our lives. C J Mahaney is very open about his own battle with pride, clear in his explanation of the Bible’s teaching on humility, and practical in how we can challenge pride and cultivate humility in our own lives. I can see myself coming back to this book again and again. Well worth reading.
December 18, 2025
“Nothing else can do it. When I see that I am a sinner… that nothing but the Son of God on the cross can save me, I’m humbled to the dust… Nothing but the cross can give us the spirit of humility”
“Waiting is not resignation; waiting is an active trust in God to provide fulfillment in His perfect timing, according to His ultimate purpose of glorifying His Son.”
“Waiting is not resignation; waiting is an active trust in God to provide fulfillment in His perfect timing, according to His ultimate purpose of glorifying His Son.”
January 6, 2011
This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit.–Isaiah 66:2. So needed. So timely. So beautiful. The humble man is layed out perfectly and plainly. A clear definition of what humility is, what pride is, what pride does, and how to daily cultivate humility. C. J. opens up a gorgeous picture of what true greatness is. He delivers the statement that the Greatest One that walked this earth was humble to show us how to be great. It’s done by death. Sacrifice. Pain. And our Savior leads the way in it. This is not society. This is not the norm. “True greatness is attained only by emulating the Savior’s example—and made possible only by the Savior’s sacrifice.” [p. 58]
The more and more that I take in from Soveriegn Grace Ministries, the more I am refreshed. It is such a cold drink of water to hear a humble, honest testimony of the vastness of man’s depravity contrasted with the infinity of God’s greatness. God is doing some serious work in my soul right now over my inabilities. Through messages, this book, examples of godly men, difficulties, I am seeing more and more the truth that God only uses me when I come to the end of self-reliance. When I come to the end of my ability. C. J. expounds that our first step is admitting we need help. Admitting our inability before God’s all-sufficient ability.
One of the most powerful segments of the book deals with what pride means to God. “Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge thier dependance upon Him.” Pride is “contending for supremacy” with God. [p. 31] Ouch. God hates that. He can’t look at it. He doesn’t reward it. It is vile to Him. That’s me. All the time. Doing things God hates. Ouch. God, help me to see the peril of pride that I might love humility with all my heart.
A major deterrent from cultivating humility comes from the all around us. Everything screams to promote self. The world loves to talk about things that are great. Self-exalting skilled people are praised constantly, yet they are farthest from true greatness. Even in my church, not in the leadership, but in the body, it seems that humbling yourself is looked down upon. We get so self-righteous thinking that its not right to talk about where we missed it. We somehow forget that “confessing your faults one to another that ye may be healed,” is in the Bible. It is better to just put up a good looking outside that everyone sees. Vomit. C. J. describes a major problem in churches when discussing with a friend, Jim, why his experience with church was different...why his church split, “Right from the beginning, Covenant Life had...a strong emphasis on humility, especially among the leaders. Jim thought, Nope. That we did not have...When it comes to the values we live by, what will others say about us one day? Will they testify that humility charecterized our lives?” [p. 23] How I need God to work humility in me, that I may be an example to those I touch. It’s time to turn the corner of the norm, self-righteous pride to the truly great, broken humility.
I loved this book. I loved every page. I loved it, but I hated it. The first half of it was a dagger at times, other times it was a sword, other times a big club. Ouch. But amazingly and wonderfully, the end of the book was a wonderful balm for those wounds. C. J. lays out a wonderful plan in the last half of the book. Super practical application of how to work it. Mornings, evenings, words, sports, parenting, trials. It is perfect. His word on sleep was great; I’ve never heard it put that way, but it is so good! Take a chapter a week and try to implement these things and they will go a long way to cultivating humility and weakening pride. How powerful.
Pride takes inumberable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride—to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contending for supremacy with Him. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to recieve.
No wonder God opposes pride. No wonder He hates pride. Let that truth sink into your thinking.
To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus’ personal example of humble service. What we need is His death.
There is only one thing I know of that crushes me to the ground and humiliates me to the dust, and that is to look at the Son of God, and especially contemplate the cross.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES
The more and more that I take in from Soveriegn Grace Ministries, the more I am refreshed. It is such a cold drink of water to hear a humble, honest testimony of the vastness of man’s depravity contrasted with the infinity of God’s greatness. God is doing some serious work in my soul right now over my inabilities. Through messages, this book, examples of godly men, difficulties, I am seeing more and more the truth that God only uses me when I come to the end of self-reliance. When I come to the end of my ability. C. J. expounds that our first step is admitting we need help. Admitting our inability before God’s all-sufficient ability.
One of the most powerful segments of the book deals with what pride means to God. “Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge thier dependance upon Him.” Pride is “contending for supremacy” with God. [p. 31] Ouch. God hates that. He can’t look at it. He doesn’t reward it. It is vile to Him. That’s me. All the time. Doing things God hates. Ouch. God, help me to see the peril of pride that I might love humility with all my heart.
A major deterrent from cultivating humility comes from the all around us. Everything screams to promote self. The world loves to talk about things that are great. Self-exalting skilled people are praised constantly, yet they are farthest from true greatness. Even in my church, not in the leadership, but in the body, it seems that humbling yourself is looked down upon. We get so self-righteous thinking that its not right to talk about where we missed it. We somehow forget that “confessing your faults one to another that ye may be healed,” is in the Bible. It is better to just put up a good looking outside that everyone sees. Vomit. C. J. describes a major problem in churches when discussing with a friend, Jim, why his experience with church was different...why his church split, “Right from the beginning, Covenant Life had...a strong emphasis on humility, especially among the leaders. Jim thought, Nope. That we did not have...When it comes to the values we live by, what will others say about us one day? Will they testify that humility charecterized our lives?” [p. 23] How I need God to work humility in me, that I may be an example to those I touch. It’s time to turn the corner of the norm, self-righteous pride to the truly great, broken humility.
I loved this book. I loved every page. I loved it, but I hated it. The first half of it was a dagger at times, other times it was a sword, other times a big club. Ouch. But amazingly and wonderfully, the end of the book was a wonderful balm for those wounds. C. J. lays out a wonderful plan in the last half of the book. Super practical application of how to work it. Mornings, evenings, words, sports, parenting, trials. It is perfect. His word on sleep was great; I’ve never heard it put that way, but it is so good! Take a chapter a week and try to implement these things and they will go a long way to cultivating humility and weakening pride. How powerful.
Pride takes inumberable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride—to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contending for supremacy with Him. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to recieve.
No wonder God opposes pride. No wonder He hates pride. Let that truth sink into your thinking.
To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus’ personal example of humble service. What we need is His death.
There is only one thing I know of that crushes me to the ground and humiliates me to the dust, and that is to look at the Son of God, and especially contemplate the cross.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES
May 12, 2020
Short but challenging read about humility. Many good practices and personal stories that got me thinking about my own life and how much importance I place in practicing humility.
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