November 14, 2024
Thursday
If I were asked what the greatest detriment to the Christian life was I would answer "pride." Pride can be found at the root of many of our other sins.
It is pride that keeps us from considering others advice. Pride tells us that others don't know what we know so we discount others advice and do what we think is best without outside opinions. Of course, that means we will never get beyond what we already know. That will keep us in a rut. And a rut is just a grave with both ends kicked out.
Pride keeps us from apologizing and giving forgiveness. Pride will not allow us to see our own errors. It points at the errors of others without understanding what they may have gone through. How dare anyone do anything against us. How dare we forgive them because of that. The lack of forgiveness and giving forgiveness hinders true Christian fellowship. It estranges people from each other and from God.
Pride causes us to refrain from asking for help. It doesn't matter if it is help from a colleague or from the Lord. It limits the strength we could have and it severely limits our effectiveness. When it comes to doing anything with the Lord, we can do nothing. Pride makes us less than we could be.
Pride demands attention. It bristles when ignored. It expects others to serve. It talks about itself incessantly. It turns others off and doesn't care.
But the greatest failure of pride is that it causes God to oppose us. We are a people that need grace. We need it always and pride turns God off so much that He withholds grace from the prideful.
The real problem with pride is that it hides itself from the proud person. Therefore, there is no problem of pride. Even when there is.
James 4:6 (NASB 2020) 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
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