“It is humbling for us to remember that our Heavenly Father is the One who has given us skills, graces, knowledge, positions and titles. The Apostle Paul put it so clearly to the church in Corinth when he wrote, “Who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?”

Everyone is gifted in one way or another. Whether we are called to serve on the mission field, in the ministry, in the workplace or in the home, God has individually gifted us with the skills and knowledge needed to do His work. When we use our gifts wherever He places us, we glorify His name and reflect His character.

However, we all have a sinful tendency to pride ourselves in our title, position and abilities. For those of us who have earned a title by a diligent use of our gifts, this can be an especially difficult spiritual battle. Here are 7 humbling truths that we would do well to remember as we seek to combat pride and continue to honor the Lord with our gifts:

1. God is the Creator and We are the Creatures. There are numerous places in Scripture where the Lord reminds us that no one–and nothing–compares to Him. He may not be compared to any man as “[His] thoughts ae not [our] thoughts, nor are [His] ways [our] ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9); neither may He be compared to other gods, as He alone is the true and living God–“glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders” (Ex. 15:11). If we really believe that there is no other god, and no one like our God, then we ought to give Him the glory due to His name. Man was created to give glory to His Creator. This truth must permeate our hearts and minds.

2. God is the Source of All. It is humbling for us to remember that our Heavenly Father is the One who has given us skills, graces, knowledge, positions and titles. The Apostle Paul put it so clearly to the church in Corinth when he wrote, “Who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it” (1 Cor. 4:7)? The Apostle James explained this truth when he said, “Every good and perfect gift has come down from above, from the Father of lights”—remembering that the best of these gifts was His everlasting Son and Spirit. The thought of God’s physical and spiritual blessings should singularly bolster our humility.

3. We are Undeserving. No matter how good we are at what we do, before the Lord we are just as deserving of His displeasure as others. We also need to remember our own sinfulness and need for a Savior. It doesn’t matter what we can do or how well we can do it, unless we are trusting the Lord Jesus to cleanse us with His blood, our best acts are like “filthy rags” in God’s sight (Is. 64:6). John Calvin, in his Institutes (3.17.8) explained this principle when he wrote:

Forgiveness of sins being previously given, the good works which follow have a value different from their merit, because whatever is imperfect in them is covered by the perfection of Christ and all their blemishes and pollutions are wiped away by his purity, so as never to come under the cognizance of the divine tribunal…and the imperfection which is wont to sully even good works being buried, the good works which are done by believers are deemed righteous, or; which is the same thing, are imputed for righteousness.

It is only as we are washed in the blood of Jesus that we are able to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Eph. 5:2).

4. We are Utterly Dependent. No matter how hard we work, how fast we can get the job done or how skilled we are, we would do well to humble ourselves and ask the Lord for help. We should remember to pray. When we don’t turn to the Lord in prayer we are in effect saying we are in control, we can accomplish what needs to be done and we trust ourselves. These are self-exalting thoughts, and Jesus warns that those who exalt themselves will be humbled (Matt 23:12). It is better to humble ourselves in prayer then to wait and be humbled by God. Jonathan Edwards explained this is detail in his masterful sermon “God Glorified in Man’s Dependence.”

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