WOW!! what is pride? Took a good look at some dictionaries and here’s what I reckon is the best definition I came across:-
“High or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit or superiority whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct etc”
So in other words a great opinion of oneself either in the words, deeds or thoughts.
If you’ve had some enviable successes in your life, you’ve probably tempted to replay them in your mind from time to time. Resist the urge!
Nothing will cause you to lose your way faster than looking behind you.
If however, you insist in rehearsing your accomplishments, make sure you give credit where credit is due. Apart from God, you could have done nothing. Apart from you, God can still do anything.
If you still want to show thankfulness to Him then go ahead – knock yourself out. BUT if you are just looking for a little bit of praise – don’t bother – just get over it.
There is certainly a big difference in the pride of self where we can can get so consumed with ourselves we have utterly no room for God at all and say for instance the pride in your family or a job well completed.
In Psalm 10 it says “In his pride the wicked man does not seek God, in all his thoughts there is no room for Him”. God is after a spirit of humility not pride! Pride tells us that we are capable of anything – that we can be the master of our own destiny – our very spirituality depends wholly and solely on us.
On the other hand the humility of what God speaks makes us recognise that we are so spiritually poor that there is absolutely no way to come to Him except through His grace – His eternal grace. Nothing lasts in this world – not our fortunes or our pride – nothing! Except the very grace of God by which we are saved through the sacrifice of Jesus.
The proud are just full of their own importance; they believe that somehow they deserve his acceptance.
We hear a lot of D.I.Y these days – everything seems to come in flat packs and so often you need an engineering degree to assemble it. BUT D.I.Y isn’t an option for those who come to Christ – at least not where their spiritual life is concerned.
God is the source of our strength. Without Him, we are helpless. Anyone who refuses to acknowledge that fact has allowed pride and ego to block their view of the truth. And they may have to learn the hard way just how dependent they are on God.
Read and ponder John 3: 20-21. Swallow your pride and be willing to come into the light of God’s Word. Be willing to open your entire heart to God and let him continue to change you.
Remember that God wants all of your life; your job, your spouse, your money, your dreams, your next two minutes, your next two years. You can’t have Jesus simply sand down your rough edges, rather, the crucified carpenter wants to shape your life and make it into a different piece of wood entirely.
Pride has kept many people from accepting the saving grace of Jesus. 2 Corinthians says we are not to boast about what we do but if we must boast then we should boast in God’s work in us. Pride is sinful because it is giving ourselves credit for something that God has accomplished. Pride is self-worship!
We can’t keep our pride and our relationship with God. He won’t allow it. In fact, I reckon, God abhors our pride – Jesus died to do away with our pride and if we make a point to grab the attention and praise for ourselves then we are guilty of taking something that belongs to him. We are robbing God of His glory and he won’t stand for that.
It’s so important to scan our lives regularly for signs of harmful self-regard and ask our heavenly Father to forgive us, to rid us of self so that we can see Him and His amazing plans for us.
God bless you this week as we together lay our prideful selves at the foot of the cross and pick up the grace of God freely given for all of us.
