This Thing Called Pride

 I had to take a deep breath before I started writing this; I was worried it might turn into a psychotic rant.

There are so many verses in the Bible about pride, will list a few right here.

 Jeremiah 9:23 this is what the Lord says. ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches.

Proverbs 11:2 When Pride comes then comes disgrace. But with humility comes wisdom

Proverbs 13:10 Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice

Proverbs 16:5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this, they will not go unpunished

 

Proverbs 16:9 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud

Psalm 10:4 in his pride, the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

It is such an important topic, that God felt the need to address it several times just in case we missed the point the first time He said it. Pride will have you seeking admiration from people. Pride will have you refusing to be corrected by those you deem less than you. Pride will have you surrounding yourself with only those who stroke your ego. Pride will be the start of your downfall.

Everyone is born with a measure of pride. Even a 2 year old can be too proud to say ‘sorry’ to a friend. It’s just that as we grow older, as we become more educated; start making more money, start creating a name for ourselves in our cities or communities; that measure of pride, gets bigger. It gets bigger to the point that we will refuse to be seen taking public transport if our car decides to break down somewhere. We will refuse to be seen talking to people we think are ‘beneath us’. We will refuse to take advice or constructive criticism from anyone we believe is not ‘worthy’ or ‘big enough’ to offer advice or criticism.

Human beings, by nature, are generally vain. We like anything that makes us feel good, we like anyone who tells us all the amazing things about us. So much that if we meet someone who doesn’t think that highly of us, we are quick to get offended and dismiss them as ‘haters’. Thing is though, we all need to have people around us, who will remind us that even with our achievements and wealth or fame, we are still imperfect human beings, being molded by a perfect God. I always say to people, that if you don’t humble yourself, God will humble you and it will be painful.  

When God decides to humble you, He will remove everything about you that people use to measure you as successful. If it is your money that causes people to praise you and feed your ego, He will take that. If it is your ‘popularity’ that makes you proud, He will make you a laughing stock to show you that popularity means absolutely nothing. If it is your beauty that makes you proud, He will find a way to show you that there are others He created who are far more beautiful than you.

 I remember a friend of mine who applied for a job that involved a lot of face to face contact with clients and she said ‘If I get this job, it will mostly be because of my looks’. She found herself very pretty and her sense of security was in that beauty. She was called for an interview and she got to the interview venue to find a long line of girls just as pretty and others far prettier than she is. She did not get the job and I’m pretty sure she was humbled.

Search your heart, and ask God to show you if there is anything in your life that causes you to be proud. A lot of people are not aware of this, but the last 2-3 years have been very tough for me. In that time, I have been broken, pruned and molded by God. There are things I am not embarrassed to do now, that would have made me cringe 5 years ago. 

Sometimes, I will chat with a friend, and he/she will say something about being  in a situation where they hoped they wouldn’t see or meet anyone they know because they will be laughed at or mocked, and I’m sat there thinking ‘so what if they laugh?’

If you think you’re too good, your name is too important, your image is too precious to do some things that people with less income do on a daily basis, you might need to evaluate your pride levels.

I’m not saying I have been pruned to perfection. Not even close. God is still working in me, but I can tell you for sure, that pride is something I am glad God has somehow reduced in me.