“If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall.” (1Corinthians 10:12)
This is a warning. When we think we’re established firmly in righteousness, a great temptation will come to get us to think it’s because of us; our good works or words. Nothing could be further from the Truth. We have nothing to do with our righteousness, our good works or good words. Once we tear down that idea, we can begin to be grateful for the work God is doing in us. We can take no credit, “because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey His own purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)
We have presumptuously and erroneously said, “I came to the Lord,” or “I accepted the Lord,” or “I received the Lord.” We may have made a conscious decision, but even then we did because the Lord was at work in our hearts. Jesus said, “The prophets wrote, 'Everyone will be taught by God.' Anyone who hears the Father and learns from Him comes to Me.” (John 6:45) “And He added, "This is the very reason I told you that no people can come to Me unless the Father makes it possible for them to do so." (John 6:65) This is how dependent we are in the Lord. Therefore, we have nothing to boast about or be proud of. Instead, it’s humbling. We should always be on our toes to stay close to the Lord, knowing that our human inclination is to think it’s about us. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, He saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of His own mercy that He saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that by His grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.” (Titus 3:4-7) And so everything depends on God’s mercy. (Romans 6:19)
Pride is very destructive to us. It’s deceitful, “Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.” (Proverbs 16:18) There’s a cure for pride found in the Scriptures. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10) Knowing that we are not responsible for any strength, power, in thought or action, we can be humble before the Lord. We can thank and praise Him for working in us, through us and for us. One quick way to take that pride out of our thinking is to do as Paul recommended to the Philippian church. “Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
Pride is always wanting the last word. It’s wanting your way because you think it’s the better way. That’s why we have arguments. Each person is insisting their way is better. That’s pride. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10 KJV)
You may wonder why pride is so detestable to the Lord. “The wicked do not care about the LORD; in their pride they think that God doesn't matter.” (Psalms 10:4) The prideful are so full of themselves, there is no room for God. John encountered such a person in writing from Patmos and wrote to Gaius who was a leader in one or more of the churches in Asia about this individual. “I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say.” (3John 1:9) Diotrephes was so full of pride, he would put out of the church those that disagreed with him. He refused to receive missionaries. And if anyone housed a missionary, he’d put them out of the church. Usually when someone acts with such control over people, they will be full of pride.
How do we combat pride in our lives? One is to keep close to the Lord, recognizing that it is His grace in our lives always. We need to examine our motives when we act. Why we do such and such will stop us in our tracks if we recognize we are doing things for the wrong motives; to look good, to exalt ourselves, to impress, etc. Another way is to do humbling things. There is no greater anointing than when we volunteer to do something no one wants to do because it’s demeaning. Or love on those who are looked down on. Paul gave this advice to the Romans: “Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.” (Romans 12:16)
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