Surely 1 Peter 5:5b is one of the most sobering sentences in all of Scripture: “. . . . God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” In other words, if you want God as your opponent, to pitch for the other team, swell yourself up in pride, become a spiritual Michelin Man. For pastors, the context makes it even more sobering: Peter is instructing elders, telling them, “clothe yourselves, all of you in humility.” This passage is sobering, too, because humility is rare, even among God’s undershepherds.

In a church age that encourages pastors to build their platform and develop a public persona, humility can appear unattractive because it communicates weakness, not ministerial muscle. Yet Paul says weakness promotes humility within the hearts of church leaders: “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9b). As ministers of the gospel, we are called to adorn the good news of Christ with humility, yet pride comes far more easy for most of us. How should a pastor drive out the unholy ghost of pride? How can he work to promote humility of heart and life? How can God help us realize that, as soon as we begin to think we’re humble, then it’s virtually certain we are not. William P. Farley gives God’s undershepherds some help in his excellent new article, 11 Questions for Prideful Pastors (and Those Who Think They’re Not). Read it, ponder it, and ask God to plant this most vital of virtues in the soil of your heart.