Pride Isn’t Always What We Think It Is

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV

This morning, I was talking to a brother in Christ about pride. While I didn’t call sin a good thing, I said that the only good that can come out of sin is if it draws us in closer to Christ. He then told me that he wasn’t aware of prideful thoughts, but it was something he’d think about. That got me to thinking: we often define pride as “Look at my accomplishments/possessions/positions,” but what if it was more than that? What if pride in our lives is the absence of God in it? We may not be arrogant in the things we do, but we certainly don’t invite God in as if we were weak in them, do we? And we need to be weak in everything.

Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). So, if I hear Jesus correctly, those who are so absolutely destitute within themselves and have nothing if God is not there, get the Kingdom. We need to be so absolutely bankrupt within ourselves that we depend completely upon the mercies of God in everything and for everything. Do you see God in this way? What are you not depending upon God for? Otherwise, we’ll fall into works instead of depending on Jesus for our salvation. And Jesus lived perfectly, died in our place, was buried and rose again on the third day, all according to the scriptures, all according to God’s promises, all to set us free to be reconciled to the Father. Part of that reconciliation is to live unburdened, and to be unburdened we must cast all of our burdens on Him. Every single one. So, loved ones, dive deep in to the oceans of Grace. Trust God completely, and give Him complete rulership and ownership of your life. Watch, then, as pride gives way to freedom as He reigns completely over your life.

Galatians 5

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.