Pride (Article for October issue of "Cornered"

I often fear the wrong impressions people may have of me, as I write these articles. You see, I am no spiritual giant, in fact, the reverse is true. I am acutely aware of the many “renovation projects” in my life that require so much more submission and surrendering to the Holy Spirit. Yes, I confess, I do have many imperfections and flaws.

One area of that is pride. Pride can be so subtle, even guised in false humility. I read recently, an article in the Leadership Magazine, a quote by Francois Fenelon, that “The truly humble is perfectly obedient, because he has renounced his own will. He lets himself be led to where he is wanted, in one way or another. He yields to everything and resists nothing, because he would not be humble if he had a choice and a will or an argument over what was ordered for him….Let us abandon ourselves then with courage. If God makes nothing of us, He will give us justice, because we are good for nothing, and if He makes great things, the glory will be His”.

In our society and culture, worldly successes are applauded and accolades lavished on those who reach achievements worthy of recognition. Unfortunately, the church is not exempt from this. Our esteem and pride act like barometers, rising and falling according to the successes we achieve, even in ministry.

Are we guilty of feeling slightly smug, arrogant, egotistical or conceited because we think that we are “doing so much better” than our neighbour? We might gloat with self satisfaction, as we contemplate where we are at, in relation to others. Are we subconsciously in “competition mode” with our brothers in the Lord? CS Lewis wrote in his book, “Mere Christianity”, that “Diabolical Pride comes when you look down on others”. “Pride”, he says, “gets no joy out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man…It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest”.

Jonathan Edwards, the eighteenth century New England puritan once said, “Pride is the worst viper that is in the heart, the great disturber of the soul’s peace and sweet communion with Christ; it was the first sin that ever was”.

“If pride could tempt Lucifer, we can be sure it will come to us in all its finery. The world’s gurus of self esteem and self-assertiveness, its coaches on successes and being number one, its preachers of self-promotion and image, all scorn the Christian’s fear of pride and exaltation of humility” [1]

Isn’t that so true and yet so frightening? Why do we think we deserve to be “recognized” for anything we do, or attempt to do, when we are “microscopically miniscule” compared to the vastness of God? What makes us think that we have any rights or choices, or that we might even share in small, fleeting, intentional or unintentional moments of glory with God?

Jesus was the kind of person whose whole life was lived in the presence of God. All his speaking and acting were with God in mind. He was the perfect example of true abandonment of self and rights. He became obedient to death, even death on the cross. “He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself NOTHING, taking the very nature of a SERVANT” (Philippians 2:6-7)

For God chose “the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29)

Vaughan Roberts, in his book, “Battles Christians Face” mentioned three challenges that Jesus issued to his disciples concerning pride. These include: Not letting pride distort our view of ourselves; not letting pride distort our treatment of others and not letting pride distort our opinion of others.

It is so true that clouded by the sin of pride, we tend to magnify the sins of others and question their intentions; whilst minimizing, excusing and ignoring our own sinful follies.

I pray that we would examine our hearts, before God and come in contrition and repentance before His throne of grace, acknowledging our sin. I know that personally, I need to.

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35)

[1] Miles Finch “Surprised by Pride” page 46 (Leadership)