Pride

Pride has always been one of humanity’s greatest sins. It dragged the Jewish people down like a heavy millstone hanging from their necks, ultimately leading the whole nation to ruin when they rejected Christ as their Messiah. Why did they reject Him? Their proud hearts were looking for a Messiah in royal splendor and glory. Pride blinded their eyes to the truth of the prophecies about Christ, and when the humble Nazarene did not meet their expectations, they shouted, “Away with this man! Crucify Him! We do not want Him to rule over us.”

Pride was also the main cause of Christianity’s drift away from Christ. As long as the Church remained humble, its preachers and shepherds lived modestly among their flock as equals. Eventually, however, some of them allowed arrogance to creep in and began to seek supremacy over others. One thing led to another, and soon, impressive church buildings became more important than sincere hearts, and services became form-driven and spiritually lifeless. Conditions deteriorated in this vein until a spiritual night fell over the Christian world. This era lasted for around 1260 years, during which many of God’s humble children lost their lives because they obeyed God more than people.

Even today, pride is widespread in many of our so-called Christian communities, and its bitter fruits are everywhere. May God help us to keep pride out of our hearts! The devil tries to spread his influence by any means and to undermine God’s truths. Dear brothers and sistsers in Christ, let us hold fast to what has been entrusted to us! Do not tire of inviting people to come to the Lord and to receive full salvation.

If we turn away from the full truth in order to attract as many people as possible, we will end up as so many already have: gathering large crowds of people with a strong profession of faith but no experience of the heart—no salvation.

Someone once asked, “Shouldn’t we compromise and exchange some of the truth we know for the chance to attract more people?” I say, “No, never!” Let us instead proclaim the whole truth of the Gospel and gather the wheat; let us live in humility and be an example for coming generations!

We preachers should be especially concerned with setting a good example and ensuring that our families also follow this path. If there is no pride in our hearts, we will also live out 1 Peter 3:3–4. 

Scripture tells us that the Lord knows the proud from afar. It also says, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 16:5). 

Pride reveals itself in various ways. Whether it affects our clothes, our behavior, or any other facet of our lives, let us heed God’s warnings! His instructions are clear: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21–22).

E. Slacum