PRIDE

Neal Pollard

As a youth intern in Alabama while a student at Faulkner University, I heard the local preacher tell me something that time has proven correct.  He said, “Most church problems could be avoided if people were willing to say two things: ‘I was wrong’ and ‘I’m sorry.'”  That seems an utterly simple thing to do, but many people struggle with that.  Why?  Some apparently feel they have done nothing wrong, despite evidence to the contrary.  Others are quick to rationalize their actions, choosing the path of self-justification rather than the path of humility.  There are those who think that admitting wrong displays weakness.  Still others refrain, stating that those on “the other side” did wrong, too, and “the other side” should go first.  Frankly, the reasons why people struggle with saying those two simple statements are as numerous as there are people unwilling to say them.  Yet, if there is a common denominator in all of them, that factor would be pride.

The frightening thing about pride is not just how prevalent and engrained in us it is, but how God responds to it.  Pride is as worldly a trait as there is, significant enough to be mentioned by John as one of three main areas proving we love the world.  He calls it “the boastful pride of life” (1 Jn. 2:16).  In His earthly ministry, Jesus calls pride an evil thing that proceeds from within and defiles the man (Mk. 7:22-23).  Twice in the New Testament, inspired writers quote from the poetry section of the Old Testament, saying, “God is opposed to the proud” (Js. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).  In fact, the Old Testament roundly condemns pride, over and over again (see Job 40:11-12; Ps. 31:23; 94:2; Pr. 15:25; Pr. 21:4,24; etc.).  Citing one sample from this section should suffice. Proverbs 16:25 says, “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.”  That should arrest the attention of everyone!  God could not speak in clearer language about how detestable pride is to Him!

Individual sin struggles, church problems, and brotherhood issues too often have pride underlying them!  People get so concerned with winning, being right, carrying the day, and showing up others that their pride leads them to do great harm to the cause of Christ and His precious bride.  It takes uncommon spiritual strength and maturity to swallow pride, soften the heart, and speak those infinitely profound and universally healing words:  “I was wrong” and “I’m sorry.”  May each of us resolve to let nothing, especially self-interest and self-preservation, keep us from saying those words when they are needful!