THE PRIDE OF LIFE

The Apostle John has broadly categorised the sins in our life into lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. Of these, the pride of life is the most insidious. When the attractions of the world and the flesh no longer hold any allure for us, pride will still be our constant companion until we draw our last breath.

Some have said that pride is not altogether bad. For instance, we can feel justifiable pride in a job well done, in a well-maintained garden, in a project successfully completed and in the accomplishments of your children. While that may be true, I prefer to use the term ‘satisfaction’ for pride often leads to feelings of superiority and arrogance.

The Oxford Dictionary defines pride as “a high or overweening opinion of one’s own qualities, attainments, or estate, which gives rise to a feeling and attitude of superiority over and contempt for others; inordinate self-esteem.” Synonyms for pride are found in Jer 48:29 : “We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud,) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.”

Pride is idolatry of the self. Pride thinks that I am most important. Pride enjoys conversations and events about me. Pride believes my thoughts and opinions are right. Pride resents correction and instruction. Pride envies the advantages, abilities and honours of others. Pride ignores asking others for advice. Pride looks down on others. Pride blinds men who can see it in others but not in themselves. It is poison to the heart, soul, and mind. It hardens the heart from loving and forgiving others, so it corrodes relationships. It cauterises the soul against correction and warnings, so it leads to backslidings and falls. It blinds the mind to dangers and risks, so a man rushes into foolish choices and destruction without thinking.

Pride is a great evil and ruined the life of the universe’s highest creature. Lucifer was not content with being God’s anointed cherub; he wanted to be like the most High (Ezek 28:14 ; Isa 14:14 ). Five times he said, “I will”, setting the pattern of self-exaltation for all who follow him. He was severely punished by being thrown out of heaven to his everlasting shame (Rev 12:9 , 12 ). “When pride comes, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Prov 11:2 )

Due to pride, Pharaoh destroyed himself, his family, his nation and his army (Ex 5:2 ). Due to pride, Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest king of his day, spent seven years crawling around a field on his hands and knees. He ate grass like an ox, his hair grew out like eagle feathers and his nails grew out like bird claws (Dan 4:33 ).

Due to pride, the Pharisee was not justified before God although he fasted twice a week and gave more of his possessions than what the law required (Lk 18:9-14 ). Due to pride, the great Syrian general Naaman was almost not cured of his leprous condition (2 Kings 5 ). Due to pride, King Herod Agrippa I, who killed the apostle James and tried to kill Peter, was eaten of worms for receiving the excessive praise of men (Acts 12:20-23 ).

Pride tempts every man and is one of Satan’s favourite devices. He tempted Eve to be like God and our Lord Jesus with the kingdoms of the world. Anyone who rises to a position of leadership or prominence in an organisation or church is particularly susceptible. Solomon warns us, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,” (Prov 16:18 ) for the higher we rise, the greater the possibility of falling hard and fast as a result of pride. Someone has said that pride is a stronger force than gravity in bringing a man down in this world.

Pride also “stirreth up strife” (Prov 28:25 ) for a proud man will always be in conflict with somebody. He will not let matters rest for he must avenge himself. Until he feels he has got the last word or act on a disagreement, he will continue to push, fight and disagree. He will not overlook minor offences; he will not admit to error or ignorance. He gets angry easily, criticises others and holds bitterness for past offences.

Pride does not easily forgive. Pride will not easily say, "I am sorry". Pride is not able to sympathise with the pain of others. The proud man always has an excuse for his bad actions, instead of a humble apology. The problems in his life are always someone else’s fault.

Other than the sin of natural pride, church leaders and members could be proud of their confessions of sin and unworthiness or even of their “brokenness”. We are also vulnerable to the sin of moral self-righteousness just like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable. This expresses itself in a feeling of moral superiority because we do not commit sins like immorality, drunkenness, etc like many unbelievers. We therefore tend to feel morally superior and look with a certain amount of disdain and even contempt on those who indulge in such sins.

Closely related to moral pride is the sin of doctrinal pride. We tend to think our doctrinal beliefs are the correct ones and look with some disdain on those whose beliefs are different from ours. Paul addressed this sin when he says, “Now as touching things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” (1 Cor 8:1 ) While Paul agreed with the doctrinal belief of the Corinthian Christians on food offered to idols, he nevertheless rebuked them for their doctrinal pride which resulted from such knowledge. Do be careful we do not blind ourselves to this sin when we vociferously defend our beliefs especially when the Word of God is silent.

God can never bless a man with a proud spirit (Prov 16:5 ). Instead, He “giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5 ). If you choose pride, God will resist and humble you painfully (Prov 18:12 ). If you choose humility, God will raise you up gloriously (Luke 14:11 ). It is far better to be a poor humble man than to be a rich proud man (Prov 16:19 ).

Our blessed Lord Jesus gave us the greatest example of humility and wisdom when He came from heaven’s glory to live in poverty and die in obscurity and pain for our sakes (Phil 2:5-8 ). He despised the shame of His humility (Heb 12:2 ). God has now highly exalted Him far above all principalities and powers (Phil 2:9-11 ; Eph 1:20-23 ).

How can we overcome the sin of pride? First, it is important to realise that we are nothing, and less than nothing, in the sight of God (Isa 40:17 ). We are worms before Him (Job 25:6 ) and mere creatures whose breath in our nostrils can be taken away at any time. Secondly, we must acknowledge that every gift, ability and talent we possess was first given to us by God. Where is pride then? Let us instead begin each day by acknowledging our dependence on and gratitude to God. End each day by giving God the glory for the grace we have received that day.

Thirdly, we must confess our sins of pride to God and forsake them by examining ourselves closely, find the seeds of pride in our lives and root them out quickly and completely. We can begin at home by rooting pride out of our own souls and then rooting it out of our families. Parents must make it the highest priority to teach humility and eradicate visible pride from their children. Pastors and church leaders must similarly root it out of themselves and their churches. As we do so, bear in mind what the Lord says, “this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” (Isa 66:2 ) Finally, we should humble ourselves by learning to be servants of one another and to esteem others better than ourselves (Phil 2:3 ).

There is an old story of a man who had a dream. In the dream he visited hell, which comprised a room with a large table in the centre. Sitting around the table were many guests, and the table was laden with all kinds of delicious food. Yet the diners were angry, miserable and hungry. There was a sullen silence in the room. As he looked, he discovered the reason. Each diner was seated too far away from the table to reach it, so they had all been given a very long spoon. Yet although they now could pick up the food, the spoon was too long for them to put it into their own mouths. So everyone went hungry.

The man was then taken to heaven, where to his surprise, the same scene was repeated. Yet here there was joy, laughter and great happiness. As he watched he soon understood why. Here, instead of trying to wedge his long spoon into his own mouth, each diner had learnt to use it to feed someone else seated a little further away. In this manner, everyone was fed and everybody was happy.

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