It has become increasingly
common for well-known pastors to make the news because of some questionable
words or deeds. In some cases, it is secret sin that has been uncovered. In
others it’s a series of poor choices that have resulted in people being hurt. Quite
likely there has been some latent pride that created a lack of accountability
and led to their downfall. Reputations have been tarnished, and Christians are
left wondering whether they can trust anything that person has said or written
during their career. I have books written by some of these men, and I have to
weigh their value and decide if I’ll ever be able to read them again without
being distracted by the author’s failures.
That’s not to say that failure
outweighs every good thing a person has ever said or done. If that were the
case, we’d all be in trouble. It is only by God’s grace that we have anything
good to contribute to the Kingdom. The Apostle Peter had to be confronted for
his hypocrisy (Galatians 2). The Apostle Paul was clear in stating his weakness
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10) and his imperfection (Philippians 3:12). Paul warned,
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who
teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1).
We see the results when people
we have come to respect fail to live up to those high standards, but all of us
are guilty of pride to one degree or another. A little bit of success or
recognition and we may soon find ourselves thinking I did good, I am good.
And if the success grows, those thoughts may turn into things like: I’ve got
it all figured out. I don’t need any help or advice. No one can tell me what to
do. They don’t understand the situation like I do. I can do what I want…
We often forget that “Pride
goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18
ESV). Pride creates its own blind spot. We may not see it because we don’t
really want to see it. Life seems far simpler when we can pass judgment on
others without ever seeing the sin in our own hearts. Pride can manifest itself
in many ways. It doesn’t always show as seeking the limelight, patting yourself
on the back, or taking credit for what others accomplish. It may be a subtle or
even blatant disregard for the opinions of others because of their age, gender,
race, education, employment, or other factors. It could be ingratitude for what
others have done, finding fault with their efforts, or many other variations. Pride
is frequently at the root of other sins.
Grace and gratitude are two
potent weapons against pride and its offspring. Scripture reminds us that our
salvation and sanctification is by grace alone, so we have no reason for
boasting (Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:1-10). We are all great sinners in need of a
great Savior. If we have a proper view of God’s grace and mercy to us, it is
easier to view others in the same light. And similarly, when we are grateful
for God’s many blessings to us, we become more grateful for other people as
well.
We often have to start with
actions and pray that our attitude will follow suit. If I make an effort to find
reasons to be grateful for the people who are irritating me, I start becoming
more thankful and patient with them. Humility, forgiveness, and thankfulness
are all interrelated, as Paul wrote in Colossians:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with
one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put
on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace
of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And
be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and
admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or
deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through Him” (3:12-17).
We probably all need some work
in the area of humility, lest we find ourselves stumbling over the pride in our
hearts. Thankfully, God is more than willing to change us from the inside out
if we will let Him do so.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count
others more significant than yourselves… work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His
good pleasure” (Philippians 2:3, 12-13).
© 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless
otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The
opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
