Pride is sly.
Pride is sneaky.
Pride is a trap that acts rather swiftly.
Though the trap takes time and a thorough planning,
Pride works in a way to keep me from understanding.
Drip, drip
Drip, drip
Pride is a cup and can’t wait till you tip.
Have a sip, just a spot, and another glass, too.
Till you’re full on yourself and
Don’t taste what’s true.
Pride knows I can fly,
And keeps me down so I don’t.
But my pride must fall down
So that I won’t.
I've been thinking about pride recently. From what I've learned, it appears that pride can be found at the root of sin (along with its good friend, unbelief).
Let's go back to the Garden. What was it that the serpent said? "Did God really say...?"
The serpent caused Adam and Eve to question God, and what resulted? Unbelief and pride (Genesis 3).
What was it that caused Satan to fall like lightning from heaven? Pride (Isaiah 14:13; Luke 10:18).
Pride can also say to God, "No, I can do this myself." It pushes His hand away. The most vivid image I can think of is when a parent tries to hold their resisting toddler's hand to cross the street.
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
Proverbs 16:18
Pride can be especially insidious because we don't always realize we're dealing with it. It takes on many shapes and forms. Some might see pride as only arrogance ("I'm kind of a big deal."); yet, shame and insecurity are on the other side of the same coin. It can all go back pride because it keeps your eyes on yourself and what you can do rather than on Jesus.
Take a look at Hebrews 12:1-2 with your "pride" lens on:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
Pride means our eyes are on ourselves, not Jesus.
Jesus is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. And what opposes faith? Pride. Unbelief. Even fear.
And yet, it's surrender.
It's humility.
It's the, "I need You, God," and God comes near again.
"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:6
We're human beings, and the truth is that we're going to face pride every day. But Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, too. He not only conquered all sin, but He is the greatest picture of humility and love.
He is our Living Hope.
There is hope when we believe - when you have faith - in Jesus. Because He overcame, so can we.
Remember what God said to Paul when he was struggling with the thorn? He said:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9
It is okay to admit that you are weak or struggling. God already knows we are (Psalm 103), and yet He is so beautifully and perfectly compassionate. He demonstrated that through Jesus and He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us every moment of the day.
"For though You are lofty and exalted, You stoop to embrace the lowly."
Psalm 138:6 (NKJV)
I want you to put yourself in God's shoes for a moment. God, He brought forth the universe in a breath. He created and beautifully knit you in your mother's womb. He knows every detail about you - He is all-knowing. He loves you with the greatest love the world will ever know. He has an incredible plan for you, His child. Fully loving and fully just, He extended us His grace and poured His wrath on His Son in our place. He conquered death and sin so that we could be with Him. And then, I'm dumbfounded as to why I wouldn't trust Him!
Here's a picture from the story of the Prodigal Son of what God, our Heavenly Father, does when we lay down our pride:
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him."
Luke 15:20 (NLT)
This verse moves me every time I read it. Every. Time.
Let us not allow a haughty spirit to lead us to a fall nor pride to our own destruction. But rather, let us choose to fall to our knees in humility, and let God's overwhelming, perfect grace cover us and let His power be made perfect in your weakness.
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