Pride

Day 4, Motives

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)

No one could tell me anything. I was eighteen and had the world in front of me. I rolled down the windows of my Geo Metro, cranked up Lenny Kravitz, and screamed the lyrics, “I want to get away, I want to fly away.” I couldn’t wait to finish my two years of community college and get out of the suffocating, small-minded, town of Madison.

It’s funny looking back. Pride has always been a struggle of mine. It’s interesting that pride can come in the form of arrogance and haughtiness, or in the form of playing the martyr and covering up our extreme insecurity. I’ve done both at different times for a large part of my life.

When I first started teaching, I was excited but also scared to death. Because I was so afraid of messing up, I developed a mask I wore. This mask appeared confidently cocky even though it was just a cover-up. The phrase, “fake it until you make it” was a motto a took to heart and somehow people assumed I had it all together and knew what I was doing.

Insecurity makes us do weird things to prove that we aren’t weak. We volunteer for leadership roles, assume responsibilities to earn favor with our peers, and parade ourselves around with an intimidating flare. It’s no wonder I pushed away all the people who were authentic in my life. Slowly, the people who were truly walking with Jesus pulled away from me and my sphere of influence changed dramatically. I was truly becoming who I was around, and it wasn’t good.

Pride rejects criticism, even if it’s constructive, kindly given, and truthful. It also doesn’t allow room for others to succeed without jealousy, covetousness, and envy driving the train. During this season of life, I was often blinded by these huge emotions. Other people seemed like competitors instead of teammates and I only thought of me and what would best propel my career forward.

Pride is the opposite of humility. It self-protects at the expense of others, and it doesn’t matter who is in its way. And when pride is fully grown, the rules and law no longer apply. Nothing can get in the way of a prideful person’s agenda and they will stomp on whoever it takes to accomplish their personal goals. Pride destroys lives.

I’m so thankful God sent people into my life who exposed my pride before it grew too large. He allowed for many falls along the way, but overall, he protected me from total ruin.

Do you wrestle with pride?

Do the Heart Work

1.      When was a season when you wrestled with pride?

2.      Pride comes before the fall. What does this phrase mean?

3.      What are the obvious characteristics of a prideful person?

Digging Deeper

Read these scriptures about pride.  Have you landed in pride’s grip?

1.      When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 (ESV)

2.      But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (ESV)

3.      Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Romans 12:16 (ESV)

4.      Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5 (ESV)

5.      For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Galatians 6:3 (ESV)

6.      Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 (ESV)

If You Get Spare Time 

              Think about the fact that pride isn’t just arrogance, but it’s also insecurity. Spend time pondering the ways you cover up for your weaknesses. Is it with pride? A mask of some kind? Lies? Defensiveness? Then ask God to show you how to exchange those things for confidence in him and his strength.