Proud or Humble?


Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6

Ronald Wilson Reagan who served as the 40th president of the United States was nicknamed as the Great Communicator. The book Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator, written by Ronald Reagan and Frederick J. Ryan is 175 pages of short stories, quotes, quips and speeches of and by the Great Communicator, which makes for perfect reading. In that book Ronald Reagan, told the following story: “I once addressed a very large, distinguished audience in Mexico City and sat down to rather scattered and unenthusiastic applause. And I was somewhat embarrassed, even more so when the next man who spoke, a representative of the Mexican government speaking in Spanish, which I don’t understand, was being interrupted virtually every other line with the most enthusiastic kind of applause. To hide my embarrassment, I started clapping before anyone else and longer than anyone else until our ambassador leaned over and said to me, ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you; he’s interpreting your speech.’”

In the book Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success John Wooden says, “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. This world is full of desperate people elevating self over God given gifts. Be careful!"

The Webster English Dictionary defines “pride” as: Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. Hence pride is something about ‘self’. It’s something about ‘selfishness’ and ‘self-centeredness.

In short, pride is the state when one points to themselves instead of the confidence, life and power found in Christ. Pride is a dangerous sin because we put ourselves in a position where God should be. We focus on ourselves instead of our Savior. The only time pride is a positive trait is when we have a high opinion of God and His work (Rom. 15:17; 2 Cor. 1:12 and 10:17). We must eliminate and run from pride to get the focus back on Christ our King. What else is pride?

Pride is the worst and most prevalent of the seven deadly sins because it is either the source or chief component in all of the others. Pride is the instigator of all sin.

Pride convinces LAZINESS that someone else should do it for me.
Pride convinces LUST that my pleasure comes before God’s priorities.
Pride convinces ANGER that if I don’t get my way someone will have to pay
Pride convinces GLUTTONY that I better get my fill.
Pride convinces GREED that the more I have the more I will be satisfied.
Pride convinces ENVY that I deserve better than you.

James 4.6 says “God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.” The Greek word ‘antitassomai’ carries an idea of enmity with it. God loves us but there is something in us that He doesn’t likes. What is that? Pride! God doesn’t likes to see pride in us. If anyone is proud he sets himself against God. He naturally becomes an enemy of God. His life and actions become resistant and displeasing to Him. Most importantly when you are proud you lose out God’s grace on your life which He would love to give all the humble because ‘He gives grace to the humble.’

We will always find pride in us and in others throughout since we are sinful by nature. However we have to learn to encounter pride. As we have seen pride will always keep you away from God’s grace. Proverbs 29:23 says “A man’s pride shall bring him low; But he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honor.” We have to remember that as long as we are in pride we cannot grow in grace of God.        

Is it possible for us to not have pride in our life? Yes. I think if we consciously do the following we can be more humble like God wants us to be.

The key to pride is found in understanding who is really in charge. Our behavior and attitudes are altered when we know who is in control. Ultimately, we all need to realize that God is large and in charge and that we are His creation.

Secondly – whenever we see that we are about to behave in pride or others are doing so we have to think of the work of our Lord and Savior Jesus. He is the example and epitome of humility. We can only encounter pride with humility. Pride cannot be handled with pride. If we try to do that the result would be chaos and war.

Thirdly – we have to cultivate love – the godly ‘agape’ love. The love that doesn’t finds reason for loving. The love that is unconditional. We all know the love is a fruit of the Spirit; so is humility. Hence we have to cultivate love through humility.

Dear Friends Let’s pray that God gives us an understanding and humble heart in handling pride in us and when we see in others.

This Lenten Season may let us journey to be God’s friend by being more humble in our actions, speech and life. 

God Bless You.
Location: Mallappally, Kerala, India

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