Reasons Why You Must Exchange Pride for Humility, and Do It As Soon As Possible
In our cultures, and in daily lives, pride is often extolled as a virtue. We take pride in the land of our birth, in the sports teams we support, and in the organizations to which we belong. There is a tendency to be proud of ourselves, to trumpet our accomplishments and boast of our wonderfulness. After all, if we don’t tell people how great we are, how will they know? We feel there is a danger that people may not be fully aware of how great, how special, how truly awe-inspiring we are.
At the root of this pride are also valid needs to feel special, to feel valued, to feel important, to feel that we matter significantly, and by extension, to feel needed, to be loved, to be appreciated, to be understood.
These needs are valid, but the ways that we tend to seek to satisfy these needs can be harmful and can bring devastating destruction into our lives, our relationships, our careers, our health, and our eternal futures.
Pride causes God to resist and oppose us. Pride separates us from God and from the people and resources He has provided for our success in life. Pride brings God’s judgment upon us and our families. Pride causes us to be deceived. Pride transforms us into scorners who are unable to discern true wisdom, leading us to reject God’s best for our lives and our families. Pride turns us into contentious, argumentative people. Pride brings shame on us and on our families. Pride will bring about our downfall.
Pride may be a natural tendency, but there is a better way to get our needs met, without these harmful side-effects.
Am I exaggerating? Am I overstating the potential harm of having pride in our lives, our thoughts, our attitudes, words, and actions?
Judge for yourself.
Reason #1: You Will be Brought Low
The Fall of Herod
Look at the example of Herod, who reveled in the praise that was lavished upon him, accepting the adulation of the people as if he was a god:
“Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, ‘It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!’ Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.”— Acts 12:21-23 (NLT)
Herod made the mistake of thinking that he deserved the praise that should be directed to God alone. The truth is that Herod was in a position of power only because God gave him the ability and opportunity to ascend to that position, and Herod ruled only as long as God allowed it. As Jesus correctly pointed out to Pilate, people in positions of power would have no power at all if God had not allowed it.
“Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above….”—John 19:10-11(NLT)
Herod would have done well to heed the insight found in Psalm 75:4-7 (AMP). It could have saved his life:
“I said to the arrogant, ‘Do not boast;’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn [of self-glorification]. Do not lift up your [defiant and aggressive] horn on high, Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation. But God is the Judge; He puts down one and lifts up another.”
If we find ourselves in positions of greatness, we must remember that it is only because God gave us the means to achieve these positions, and the opportunities to obtain them; and God can take them away at any time.
