Pride

Our society has a tendency to take emotionally and spiritually destructive concepts and try to make them appear innocent. Then they use that ‘innocence’ as an excuse to ridicule Scripture’s honest appraisal of their dangerous character. An example would be the concept of pride. Most of us would readily agree that the one thing that would thrill our hearts is for an authority figure (parents, boss, coach, etc.) to say, “I’m really proud of you.” Making someone proud of their achievements sounds very good and beneficial. Or, we are told that it is a good thing to “take pride” in our work, or whatever else we do, so that we are motivated to do our very best in every task. Again, society tries to make it seem that pride is a good thing. While the above examples are totally correct and innocent, there are other words that come closer to describing the emotion we feel.

In the first example, what is being declared is, instead of pride, a deep pleasure with another person; hence what God says about Jesus;

Mark 1:11

Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”

In the second example, it’s the description of an ownership of responsibility that seeks to do the best at any undertaking; hence, Paul writes;

1 Cor 10:31-32

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

By using the word “pride” on these occasions the world is softening the obvious destructive nature of fleshly expression that brought about Satan’s fall, and continues to turn men’s hearts away from God.

The insidious nature of pride is clearly seen in God’s Word as you witness how it split heaven when pride entered Satan’s heart. Pride led to the first murder when Cain killed Abel. Pride nearly destroyed a kingdom when David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and pride slowly turned men’s hearts away from Jesus, in the examples of Judas and Demas.

The reality is that pride is destructive no matter how innocent the world makes it look. God will not entertain even the smallest expression. That’s why the Father glorifies the Son, the Son seeks only to honor and exalt the Father, and the Holy Spirit points to Jesus and communicates only what the Father wants declared. No pride or self-exaltation of any sort, just the humble expression of love.

Aren’t you glad for that!

How exciting to be His people,

Pastor David Vanderpool