“Only through humble submission to God am I able to keep pride away.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 28, 2022
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
C.S. Lewis describes the sin of pride very aptly, “Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” His phrase pride leads to every other vice, is what I am describing as pride being the gateway to sin. A gateway is the entryway into a larger area. It can be the entrance into a home, building, field or a life. When I succumb to pride—which is way more often than I would care to admit—then I invite sin into all areas of my life. Pride left on the outdoor steps of my life loses influence over my life, but pride invited in commits sin. Only through humble submission to God am I able to keep pride away.
The worst kind of pride may be religious pride—the belief that I am morally better than you because of my religious superiority. At this point of spiritual snobbery, I have fallen to pride. Jesus told a story of two men praying—one religious and one non-religious. He described the religious man disparagingly, who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else. The religious man prayed publicly that he was thankful to not be like the sinners, and bragged on his fasting and giving. While the tax collector prayed, God be merciful to me a sinner. Prideful prayers deceive us into thinking we are better, but humble prayers confess sin.
“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
How do you know when pride is knocking at the door of your heart? Pause and be aware. Am I angry for being offended? Am I defensive to correction or criticism? Do I take responsibility? Do I look down on certain people? Do I admit wrong? Do I apologize and ask forgiveness? When you take the time to examine your heart you can detect pride and say out loud your struggle with pride. “I feel misunderstood, can we have a redo, so I can better explain myself?” Instead of saying, “you are wrong and you always take my words and twist them.” Words spoken with empathy push back on pride and invite humility into the conversation.
Most of all, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. A life submitted to the Lord looks up in dependence, looks to others with mercy and grace and does not look down on his fellow humans. God gives grace to the humble. I’m drawn to this insight from Charles Spurgeon: “God resisteth the proud.” It must be sent adrift ere God can visit us with favour, for no grace comes to the proud, “but he giveth grace unto the humble.” Humility is the grace that attracts more grace. As money makes money, so humility increases humility, and with it every other spiritual gift. If you would have much grace have much humility. God hath assistance for the humble, but resistance for the proud.” Humility closes the gateway of pride and ushers in sustaining grace.
“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, show me pride in my heart and by grace replace it with humility, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What type of conversations trigger my pride? When you see pride creeping up in your conversations, pause, pray and ask the Spirit to fill your words.
Related Reading
Job 5:11; Isaiah 2:12; Proverbs 11:2, 18:12, 29:23; James 4:10
Worship Resource
Audrey Assad: Humble
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