The Trouble with Pride

One cannot be continuously and significantly used of God and, at the same time, be self-sufficient, self-glorying and/or demanding of his own rights. Paul urged the Philippians-and us-that we: "Let this [attitude] be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8).

Paul urged us to maintain the attitude that was the intrinsic attitude of Jesus-humility. Although He deserved every good thing, He demanded nothing. He laid aside every right of Godhood that was His, lived among us as a man and ultimately suffered the ultimate humbling experience-a totally undeserved death on the cross.

The antithesis of humility is pride. Paul warned Timothy of men falling into the snare of the devil through pride when they desired to be elevated to an exalted position and lacked the maturity to handle it: "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6).

Pride is a snare of the devil. Paul instructed Timothy on how elders should deal with people in the church who oppose and disagree with them: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will" (2 Timothy 2:24-26)."

A chief characteristic of one who is humble is meekness. Meekness defined is "a tame teachable spirit." When one is unable to receive correction and instruction, he is setting the stage for failure in his life. Conversely, when he is able to meekly receive correction he can be trusted with great spiritual authority and power.

The scripture speaking of Moses described Him as being "very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3). God can afford to trust much to one who is meek and lowly of heart. Jesus described Himself as being "meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29). Paul besought "that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3).

When one is critical of another, ascribing pride in the other, he is actually revealing the pride in his own life. Judgmentalism is inevitably a product of pride and reveals the failure that he, who is judging, has in his own life. The glasses through which he sees the failures of others are actually mirrors of his own heart.

Peter implored: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6).

When one humbles himself under the mighty hand of God he will be lifted up and ultimately trusted with much. When one feels that he is qualified to have greater stature and recognition than what others are willing to give to him, by his very expectations he reveals the pride of his heart. God searches the hearts of men that he may find those who are broken and contrite before him. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Jeff

• Jefferson H. and Norma R. Floyd, CO-directors • Jubilee International • P. O. Box 572 • Noblesville, IN 46061