Pride (definition) – An excessive belief in one’s own abilities, that interferes with the individual’s recognition of the grace of God.

Pride is Deceptive

Pride is a venomous poison that seeps into the lives of even the mightiest of men. It claims self-sufficiency and independence as a focal point for one’s accomplishments. I struggle with this form of pride. Who wants to be dependent on anyone or anything? Yet God is desiring a humble spirit, to realize that we can’t live this life in our own strength. Even when we don’t give praise and honor to God, He is still where the strength is coming from; we are just not admitting it to ourselves.

Apart from God I can do nothing.

John 15:5

Every good and perfect gift is from above

James 1:17

Pride Comes With Friends

Pride does not travel alone. With pride comes guilt, competition, and judging. It is hard to stay feeling self sufficient because one soon realizes that they never measure up to their own expectations.

They feel guilty for their own inadequacies because they are so bent on fixing themselves in their own strength and soon realize this is an impossible task. One may also become competitive as they realize they can’t be perfect. So as long as they are better than the guy next to them they are doing OK, which would also lead to the judging aspect. Pride has a way of comparing oneself with others, in a futile attempt to feel adequate.

Desire to Feel Loved

Pride sneaks around like a wolf in sheeps clothing, preying on our desire to feel valued through our own strength. Yet, when the fog fades we soon realize the desire to be great is not what we wanted after all. It is the desire to be loved.

King Nebuchadnezzar was proud of the kingdom that he built in all its grandeur. How often do we do the same thing? We pat ourselves on our backs with a smile on our face and a warm fuzzy feeling in our tummy.

Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

Daniel 4:30-32

God is only for Emergencies?

There is this false notion that we can do it all on our own, that God is only for emergencies, or for the weak. Pride sets in. It becomes easier and easier to truly believe you can do it on your own. It takes instances beyond our control to slowly crack into that false façade.

Pride cometh before the fall.

Proverbs 16:18

Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

1 Cor. 10:12

Nobody is Perfect

God knows we are not perfect, but we try to puff up and validate that we can do it all on our own.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Matthew 9:12

How could we possibly think that we could put on our best spit and polish and impress the Lord with something we’ve accomplished on our own?

Karon Goodman

Give God Praise

We need to humble ourselves and thank God for what He does for us and through us.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:15-19

He wants the best we can do, each new day, with this frame of dust held together by our Maker. That’s enough. That’s the key-to understand our dependence on Him, not to impress Him with our lack of need.

Karon Goodman