Of all the “respectable sins” (a term coined by the author Jerry Bridges) pride has to be one of the most pernicious and pervasive. There is not a human soul in existence today who is not troubled by this destructive attitude of heart. Arrogance, egotism, self-pity, self-aggrandizement, morbid introspection, public self-exaltation, and many more descriptions of pride characterize our daily lives. The sneaky thing about pride in all its forms is that it fools us into thinking it is not-existent. It is a deadly spiritual parasite who pretends to be a fabric of our sanctified DNA convincing us that we are humble and gracious with little or no pride. Ironically, the arrogant man takes pride in his abject humility. This has caused a new word to be formed in our culture today, humblebrag–A statement where one is able to exalt himself through self-deprecation. There can be little argument that all people, even Christians are proud people.
Technically, the opposite of pride is humility, but I believe that we should dig deeper. Maybe it would be better to say that the opposite of pride is Divine Wisdom. What I mean by this is that the cure for pride is not failure or falling. We often think that if a proud person is humiliated or is a failure, then they will obviously be cured of their pride. But that doesn’t usually happen. Instead, proud people who fail miserably usually play the victim and blame others around them for their failure. On the other side, they may retreat into morose self-deprecation and self-pity which is still pride because it is centered upon “self.” Mere external circumstances which could humble a man rarely destroy the wickedness of pride. Just as a child who gets caught in their sin and punished will rarely be changed from that experience. No, they will just learn how to avoid getting caught next time. So it is not external humiliation that will dissolve pride, even in a Christian’s heart.
That which is fundamentally opposed to the pride recessed in our hearts and minds is a true Wisdom of who we really are and who God magnificently is. Behavior modification seeks to change pride by showing the person how bad pride is or how negative arrogance can be or how hurtful pride is to others; but lasting change comes when our minds are turned to see how good God really is and to view ourselves in light of his revealed person, Jesus Christ. The opposite of pride or better, the cure for pride is the knowledge of God and the Wisdom only he provides. Our minds and hearts can only contain so much information and devotion. If we are devoted to feeling better, knowing more of ourselves, being comfortable and satisfied in this life, then there is little space left for Divine thoughts and lofty notions of God. But if we are filling our minds, hearts, and longings up with the Wisdom of God, there is little room left for lofty thoughts of ourselves. The battle against pride and arrogance begin with the mind being renewed in the knowledge of the person and work of God. In this manner, Theology is the most practical thing a Christian can study for life and godliness. To know God in a relational and comprehensible sense through the Word of God is the only thing that can destroy pride and selfishness from our lives.
The title of this article is about pride’s most deadly feature, so what am I getting at. Here it is…The most deadly feature of pride is that it convinces us that we don’t have a problem. Pride convinces us that our thought processes are Divine. Pride convinces us that we are not being squeezed by the world’s pattern of thinking. Pride convinces us that others have much to learn, but we thank God we are not like the Pharisee that stands in the public square thanking God he is not like the publican (kind of ironic, huh). Pride convinces us that we don’t need to say “I am wrong;” we can simply and quietly just move on. Pride fools us into thinking that we are theologically and doctrinally minded and that we need less devoted time in the Scripture and in prayer than others. “Those Bible study classes at church are for new Christians. I need something deeper in my walk.” Pride causes us to get offended when we are rebuked or admonished. Pride is involved with self-justifying. Pride says, “But the woman, whom you gave me!” just like Adam. Pride causes us to think of everyone else who needs to hear God’s admonition…but me. In essence, the most dangerous feature of pride is that it can camouflage itself as humility and spirituality.
Remember Peter at the end of Christ’s ministry? Jesus approaches Peter and asks him three times if he loved Jesus. Peter’s appropriate and honest response is recorded, and Jesus commands Peter to feed his sheep. Then at the end of it all, Jesus tells Peter to strengthen his brothers when he is converted. Jesus knew Peter and he knew that there was a major change that still needed to take place in Peter. That change is obvious when we see Peter’s immediate words. He looks at John and says, “What about this man, what will he do?” Jesus’ response is classic. “That is none of your business, follow me!” (That is a loose paraphrase I know). What needed to change in Peter? Pride, it had hid itself so well from Peter that he couldn’t even see it even after the passion events. It took a while for Peter to finally see that he was wrong.
Beloved, we must ask God to humble us through a growing and sincere knowledge of His person and work. Pride will keep you and me from examining our heart. That parasite does not want to be found. And when he is found, he will dig his teeth in and it may cause more pain removing it than letting it continue. But for the sake of Jesus name and the judgment seat of Christ, we must renew our minds in the person and work of Jesus Christ, humbling ourselves before the mighty Surgeon’s hand so that he can remove the pride that constantly grows within us.
In my life, I have noticed two ways that pride reveals itself. These may not be the same for you, but maybe my experience is instructive to some who read this. Pride usually exhibits itself when I take personal offense at others’ actions and reactions against me. If I am secure in Christ, I should take no offense from others even if they are royal jerks. What right have I to be offended by other people’s actions? I should rather have love and pity for others-rather than be personally offended with a huff and a puff. When I feel I have been wronged, pride usually raises its ugly head and bites down hard. I foolishly utter in my head, “What is wrong with people?” but what I should be asking is, “What is right with me?” My only rightness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to me. Here is the trap of Job. He sinned not at first, but then he got pretty good at justifying himself rather than God, I am pretty good at that too. Allowing bitterness over past failures of myself or others to rule me is also an expression of pride. I really need to think, “What right have I to be bitter against anyone?” Bitterness was poured out on Jesus Christ in my stead.
May God give us, Beloved, a heart that is humbly seeking to know God. “For they that do know their God shall do exploits” (Dan. 11:32). Only through an increased Theological awareness and the grace of God in submission to the Holy Spirit’s use of the Word of God in our lives can we see pride’s defeat.
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