How do you know if
someone has a problem with pride? Is there an easy
fool-proof test? Yes, this is probably the easiest
spiritual vise to test in another believer. Simply tell
the brother that he has a problem with pride and watch
the reaction! The more vehemently he denies that he has
a problem in this area, the bigger his problem with
pride. Only the truly humble brother will agree with you
that yes, he has a problem in this area. Just think
about that for a moment.
But the other side
of this coin is that those who are often best at
noticing the sliver of pride in their brother’s eye has
the bigger beam in their own eye. So, if the above test
tempted you to go out and try it out on someone else
then that is a sure sign that you have a problem in this
area also. It is often those who themselves have a huge
ego problem that are most aware of other people’s egos
simply because the two egos will clash as each vies for
prominence.
Pride is such a
big problem in the human soul that none of us can ever
say that we have victory over it. That is why the truly
humble brother will easily admit he has a problem with
pride because he has come to realize how persistent and
pervasive this problem is. Consider the following
statement: “I used to have a problem with pride but the
Lord has given me victory over it”. On the surface it
sounds very pious and humble and we often hear people
say words to that effect. But what the person is
actually saying is: “I am so proud of my humility!” That
is precisely the problem. Just at the time we think we
have “achieved” humility is exactly when we don’t have
it.
Unfortunately
modern Christianity has turned the sin of pride into a
virtue as they chant the mantras of self-esteem and
self-love. Those who promote themselves most and who are
best able to parade their achievements are hailed as
truly great and those who refuse to speak of themselves
are despised as lacking motivation, purpose and drive. I
have little doubt that the man who called himself the
chief of sinners (1Tim 1:15), and “less than the least
of all the saints” (Eph 3:8) would not be very well
respected amongst today’s preachers and very few people
would have heard of him, had he lived today.
Pride, arrogance
and self-promotion are not, and never have been,
positive qualities in any person. They always have been,
and always will be the worst of all sins and the root of
all other sins. Andrew Murray said that “The lack of
humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect
and failure.” It was pride that motivated Lucifer to
attempt to take the place of God, it was pride that
sparked within Eve the desire to be like God and it was
pride that was hurt when God accepted Abel’s sacrifice
and not Cain’s. Thus the first three recorded sins were
all motivated by pride. It is pride that spoils our
relationship with God and it is pride that is at the
root of every broken relationship with other people.
It is pride that
prevents us from accepting correction from others and
that stops us from seeing ourselves the way the Lord –
and others see us. The very fact you are reading this
message right now, and the reason the thought crossed
your mind that this article is just right for someone
else, shows the pride in your own heart! (Oh dear there
go the last few readers I had!). This message is not for
your spouse or brother, it is for you. And yes, I am
writing to myself also!
When someone
corrects us because of something we have done, we can
respond in several ways: We can take it to the Lord in
prayer, or we can respond with some self-justification
or we can creep into a hole feeling hurt by the other
person’s insensitivity, harshness etc. The moment we
feel the need to justify ourselves, we declare that we
are not humble and when we claim to be hurt, what
we are actually saying is our pride has been
hurt. It is good when our pride is wounded because that
should work towards the destruction of it, but often our
egos are so big that instead of the blows to our pride
killing it, they make it stronger as we justify
ourselves and compare ourselves amongst ourselves. That
is very sad. I remember a brother claiming he was
“suffering for Christ” after I had to correct him on a
serious matter. Instead of the correction helping him,
it had the opposite effect as his chest swelled with
pride because he was so righteous that he was being
persecuted “for the Faith”!
Sometimes we can
be so arrogant that we become proud of the very thing we
aught to be ashamed of. The phrase “gay pride” is one
such example. These people know deep down that they
should be ashamed of their lifestyle, but they will
flaunt it and claim that they are proud of what is
obviously a perversion. The church of Corinth had a similar problem when Paul
had to admonish them that “you are puffed up, and have
not rather mourned”. (1Cor 5:2). Yes, they should have
mourned and wept in repentance at the sin in their midst
but rather they boasted of it!
Andrew Murray also
said that “humility is the only soil in which the graces
root”. That is so true. All the attributes of Jesus
Christ and the Fruit of the Spirit will only grow in the
soil of humility. It is only those who have discovered
the rottenness of their own flesh, and who are willing
to die to themselves in order that they may gain the
life of Christ, who will produce the true fruit of the
Spirit. The
church of
Laodicea had no need for
Christ because their pride had blinded them to their
true spiritual state and thus became spiritually barren.
Humility is the
key to a life of spiritual riches and blessing as the
Lord pours His grace, gifts and blessing on the poor in
spirit. Humility is the glue that holds human
relationships together. Humility equips us to deal with
adversity and problems and drives us to shelter in the
Everlasting Arms in stead of trusting in our own
weaknesses. Humility makes the cross easier to bear and
pride makes it even harder to bear (think of the two
robbers crucified with Jesus). Humility makes our
company sweet to others while pride drives others away.
Pride leads to a great fall but the Lord upholds,
strengthens and protects the humble. Paul said “when I
am weak, then I am strong” (2Cor 12:10). I think this
can legitimately be paraphrased: “When I recognize that
I am weak, then I am strong”
“God resists the
proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Anton Bosch
3310
W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank,
CA, 91505
Tel
818 846 5520
Good perspective
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