The basis of pride—our natural, sinful state of being—causes just about every problem we have. The antidote to pride is to become more conscious of God and others (Matthew 6:33; 22:37,39). Balance is obtained when you obey the first commandment, to love God; and the second, to love your neighbour as you love yourself.
What Scripture Says
"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility" (Proverbs 18:12)."But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ’God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’" (James 4:6).
"Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join forces, none will go unpunished" (Proverbs 16:5).
"Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips" (Proverbs 27:2).
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6).
God's Alternative
Satan constantly appeals to your basic nature and tempts you through your pride. He tries to deceive you into thinking that it will be all right to sin. But when you are saved, God puts a new nature within you, wherein a love for Him and His righteous-ness will overrule sin (Romans 8; Colossians 3).In order to overcome pride, you first need to repent. Then pray for a closer, more committed walk with the Lord. When you are fully surrendered to God, your being yields to your walk in the Spirit (Ephesians 5; Galatians 5:19-23; 6).
When Eve yielded to the serpent's tempting in the Garden of Eden, she was obeying the cravings of her physical and intellectual appetites and yielded to pride. When Adam listened to Eve, he also failed to control his selfish nature and, in that act, sinned against God and caused mankind to be cursed. Pride in any form, with the possible exception of "reasonable self-respect," is sin. There must be a higher motivation for your attitudes and behaviour.
Respond wholeheartedly to God's perfect love. You can be the greatest orator or the most successful person who ever lived, but without the love of God abiding within you, excellent speech is noise and worldly success yields nothing lasting (1 Cor. 13:1-2).
Pride causes you to seek your own pleasure and to satisfy your own desires. But it is to God that you are to give offerings of praise and thanksgiving, and it is others who you are to bless. In so doing, God has promised that your every need shall be provided and that honour will be given to you by people, as well as by God Himself (Matthew 6:33; 1 Samuel 2:30b; Psalm 75:6,7; Luke 6:38).
The higher motivation and the answer to pride is "agape" (charity) LOVE. Agape love is unconditional and requires nothing in return. There is no pride, envy, wrong behaviour, self-seeking, hurt feelings, impatience, evil thoughts, iniquity, etc., when you have agape love. It is charac-terized by forbearance and endurance when you are tested. It lasts when all else fails and abides consistently with faith and hope as its companions (1 Corinthians 13).
Agape love is produced by the Holy Spirit. It is not automatically a part of your personality even after you are born again of the Holy Spirit. Agape love is not something you learn. You can learn to behave as if you have agape love, but the true substance of it must come from the Holy Spirit. Then out of the substance of God-given love can come the behaviour which proves its genuineness.
Finally, with love and meekness comes the rest of the fruit of the Spirit: joy, peace, goodness, kindness, patience, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23). With the fruit of the Spirit (the nature of God) characterizing your life, your original sinful nature (repented of and forgiven) will be under control. You can be authentic in your relationships and God will honour you, as will those whom you honour.
As You Pray
Pray for forgiveness of pride and for God to renew your mind. Seek the mind of Christ in prayer and through Scripture. As you pray, ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and manifest a new love in you. Praise and thank Him for giving you that great love for others and setting you free from pride.Suggested Reading
Search For Significance by Robert McGee and Telling Yourself The Truth by William Backus and Marie Chapian. Daily read a chapter each of Psalms (worship) and Proverbs (wisdom).Galatians 5:16-18 Lust between flesh and Spirit
Proverbs 11:2; 13:10 Pride and wisdom
James 4:6 Strength in humility
Galatians 6:3 Sharing burdens versus pride
Proverbs 20:6 Faithfulness versus pride
1 Corinthians 1:29 No boasting before God
Philippians 2:3 Think of others as better than yourself
1 John 2:16 Pride issuing from wealth and importance
Proverbs 27:2 Let strangers praise you
Obadiah 3 Pride of heart deceives
1 John 2:16 Lust of the flesh, pride of life Crossroads is happy to help. In fact, that's the whole reason we exist as a ministry. The daily 100 Huntley Street telecast and the 24-hour-a-day Telephone Ministry line are here for the same reason. You may want to call us as you are reading this: 1-866-273-4444
God loves you and we love you! Please give us the privilege of doing our best to help more. For further ministry, you may contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre by writing to:
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
Attn: National Ministry Centre
PO Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4M2
