Pride: In The Name of Love
It would be like adding tomato sauce to ice-cream – the two just don’t go together!
Reference: Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly, but he takes notice of the proud from afar. (Psalm 138:6 TNIV Bible)
Explore: “He sounds so stupid when he says that.”
“I can’t believe she would wear that in public.”
“Doesn’t he realise everyone is watching him?”
Every time I judge someone I am putting myself above them. This means that every single day I am experiencing pride.
It’s ok to be proud of ourselves for the things that we accomplish, but when this pride is connected to arrogance and vanity it moves from self-confidence to conceitedness.
I wouldn’t have thought that I was an incredibly proud person, but then I realised how much I place myself above others. When I judge someone with bad taste, incorrect language skills, or a flaw in their character, I’m showing pride by comparing them to myself.
God speaks regularly and harshly about pride.
Application: Thankfully, God does not reject those who are proud, but He says that He notices them ‘from afar’. Our greatest desire is to be close to God, but when He is the ultimate expression of love, I guess He’s not able to be close to pride.
It would be like adding tomato sauce to ice-cream – the two just don’t go together!
If we want to be close to God, then we need to express the kinds of characteristics that are in line with love – humility, kindness, patience. The more we keep our pride in check, the more these positive attributes have space to shine.
Prayer: Lord, I need forgiveness each and every day for my pride. Help me to affirm and celebrate others rather than place myself above them. Amen.
Where does pride show its ugly head in your life?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.