Pride

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬

Pride has many disguises. Some aren’t too clever… a haughty spirit is usually pretty obvious. Some synonyms make it easy to recognize: pompous, dominant, over-bearing, boastful, egotistical, condescending, conceited, brash. Most of us would seek to avoid attitudes and behaviors like these. However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t struggling with haughtiness.

Pride is shrewd. I know it all too well. Satan and our old nature are sneaky. Assumptive, masterful, self-assertive, and patronizing describe a few of pride’s subtle disguises. A spiritual leader might get away with it for a while, but a ‘fall’ is coming.

Our gracious God provides a way of escape. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬,8‬) Submission, drawing near, cleansing, purifying all describe the Spirit’s work of repentance. They are the restoring ‘handrails of God’ that keep us from stumbling.

Praying for you! In all of these matters, please pray for me.