Pride
I find joy in the Word of God. In a proper reading, grace abounds, and one exits this conversation with God, inspired.
God in all of His glory made His glory evident. Not only in Word, but also deed. Look around you in nature and by the blessing of life-
This is true.
The Old Testament is quick to illustrate God’s glory, personality, and traits. It also highlights His desire for the love and faith of humanity.
In one prophetic message, the book of Micah, God made His disdain for faithless offerings known. As consequence, Micah justified the right sacrifice by teaching God’s personality.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)”
God is a God who desires justice, mercy, and humility. How we manifest this truth today may be different from Israel but know that God’s traits do not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). These all are reflections of His character.
So the question is:
“How do we live humbly today, in light of God’s humble character?”
“What is justice to a God who is the standard of justice?”
“Can we practice mercy in similitude to the One who loves mercy the most?”
These and or similar questions are what I have wrestled with often lately. But it keeps coming back to this question, at least for me:
How do I subdue the power of pride?
You want to be “the man/woman.” But in striving to hold on to this title, your grip is so tight, only vain conceit and Pride oozes out. We all know the consequences of this.
If you struggle with pride, only start striving for resolution in light of resolute Scripture. I’ll give you a good heart-wrenching starting place:
- “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2)
- “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:8)
- “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Proverbs 29:23)
Notice that pride is a spiritual problem, and lowliness is the answer. I can give numerous reasons for why pride is so wrong, including seeing it’s corrosive properties in my own life, but let me save you a lecture and say-
God hates it. He hates pride. Hear it for yourself.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Proverbs 8:11)
Pride and arrogance appear to be a part of collection of spiritual illnesses called “the evil way.” God’s hates evilness. Therefore, for something God hates, we should be on our toes to seek the things that He loves.
Pinpointing what exactly pride is, is difficult. It has been defined as an “overindulgence in one’s own achievement” and “consciousness of one’s own dignity.” But both of these bring consequences, and all but the pridefully seared mind can identify pride. This is the first difficult step of ascertaining a solution-
Knowing you are a prideful person. Many times, by the time you realize this truth, you have already been overtaken.
But God knew this as He unveiled wisdom through the apostle Paul when it was written,
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:1-3).
God, in all of His foresight, has a multi-fold purpose for the Body of Christ. One beautiful purpose is simply to be.
Be there. One will be overtaken in a fault. Once this is identified, be there. Bear each other burdens and point them back Scripturally to the Spirit of Meekness.
Identify, Be, Point.
Some problems can only be solved by “being.” Pride is likewise. Be restored by the Spirit. Move on and point others to Christ’s redemptive power.
Do not swallow your pride, spit it up. Give it no longer place in your life.
God bless!
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