Matt 23:1-12 - the opposite of humility is arrogance 

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,

Mat 23:2  “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,

Mat 23:3  so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

Mat 23:4  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Mat 23:5  They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,

Mat 23:6  and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues

Mat 23:7  and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

Mat 23:8  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Mat 23:9  And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Mat 23:10  Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Mat 23:11  The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mat 23:12  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Mark 10:35-45

“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all[…]”

1 Peter 5:6 humble yourself under the hand of God that in due time he might exalt you.

Arrogance robs from us

• It robs us of each other - 
  • you become my adversary. I’m locked in an endless struggle to stay better/bigger than you
  • I can never receive from you
  • I can never cooperate with you
• It robs us of ourselves 
  • We have to lie to ourselves constantly - maintaining the story - explaining away the brokenness
  • We have to keep others at a distance so they stay fooled
• It robs us of God 
  • We cannot need him
  • We cannot be honest 
  • We cannot admit failure or problem 

Humility is a key to happiness:

• Mistakes are allowed. In fact expected
• Failure becomes a Friend because it does such a great job teaching 
• No more competition
• No more shame
• No need to pretend
• No need to hide
• It’s not up to you to make things happen 
• We get to trust in and receive from Jesus

Humility flows from:

• a revelation of God - when we see him we can’t brag about ourselves 
• Honesty about ourselves 
• Pain brings humility Pain plants the flag of reality in the fortress of a rebel heart.