The Folly of Pride

As I mentioned in my previous post, there was a lengthy season in my life where I was really struggling to read God's word and find joy in Him alone. During this time, I found my heart becoming very cold and hard, and this began to manifest itself in the way that I was living. Most noticeable was that I was quick to anger, prone to fault-finding and gossip, and I was more concerned with my wants and desires rather than desiring to serve others.

However this season was not without its good purposes! During this time, the Lord really shed some light on the ‘hidden evils of my heart’. I really began to see what I would look like, without the grace of God in my life. Not a pretty sight, to say the least! But what was even more startling to me during this time was the increase of pride in my heart. At such a time as this, when I quite obviously had nothing to be proud of, I was becoming more proud! What could my heart possibly find to have pride in at a time like this?

But that’s the thing about pride isn’t it? It seems to work subtly and subversively, making an appearance even in places where it is the least justifiable. Our hearts long to make much of ourselves, long to find something good in us, long to have glory, where quite clearly no glory is due. Even at our worst we can find something to boast about, whether we see things in others that we think we do better, or just the fact that we at least recognize our sin, can make us proud.

Even in areas where it may seem that one has cause for pride, such as good looks, vast knowledge, exceptional skills, marked spirituality, Scripture is quick to remind us “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”(1 Cor 4:7)

Proof in point, that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jer 17:9)

The Lord is still working out these things in me and I'm sure that he will be until he brings me home to glory, but my prayer is that he will continue to humble me. In future posts, I hope to address the guile of pride at more length. For now Christian, remember "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6b)