Pride

In the previous posts, the sin of pride was illustrated. It is a sin naturally found in man. To be concise, it is “self” showing off. Psychologists and people managers work at nourishing one’s ego to fix issues and make people be more productive. Higher positions and privileges are given to employees to satisfy their ego. We are being conditioned to think that low-esteem is an evil to be fought and  that servanthood is a sign of weakness. People are being encouraged to fight for their rights. The ads around us tell us that we deserve the best brands. Pride blurred needs from wants. Pride makes people blind, disobedient to authority, rude, ungrateful, arrogant, unloving, unforgiving, slander and selfish.

Pride manifests itself different ways and Paul warned Timothy about it:

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” 2 Tim. 3:1-2

Proud people are not usually loyal because loyalty will require self-sacrifice and commitment. They prefer betraying in order to exalt self. It is no surprise that Paul mentioned that proud people can have an appearance of being religious. Spiritual pride is being like the pharisees. Jesus cursed the pharisees and revealed their sins because they liked to be called Rabbi, boasted about their knowledge and spiritual achievements. Pride is denying that every good things comes from God.

“So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens” James 1:17

Pride rejects God as provider since it renders oneself not self-sufficient.

On the other hand, humility is having the right perspective of the self.

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Romans 12:3

Thinking that we are better than what we are really is being pretentious. Humility is not necessarily making oneself lower than what we are but it is to be honest we ourselves. False humility is to try to appear lower than what we actually are to appear being humble. It is pride disguised. If God has blessed us with intelligence, it is prideful to deny it. Claiming you’re not a good singer when you are is false humility. Claiming you’re not skilful or gifted to do something in particular is false humility. True humility is admitting that “whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father“.

Humility is the opposite of self-exaltation. If the self is not exalted, it is people around who are being served. If self is not being worshiped, it will eventually lead the soul to worship God.

People commit crimes, thefts and any kind of sins because of self gratification. Pride is an abominable sin before God almighty. This is why God resists and opposes the proud.

Humble people are usually meek, gentle, modest, yielding, loving, satisfied with what they have, grateful and good forgivers. We’ll examine this virtue more in the next post. Dear reader, you and I have this sin of pride in us. It is a good reason to pray now to ask Jesus to deliver us from this sin. Letting Christ be the center of our life is the only cure to the sin of pride. For only through Christ can the self be crucified.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ.It is no longer I[the self] who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20