The Rock of Pride

The Rock of Pride

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” -1 Peter 5:5

The Rock of Pride
One of the rocks that will keep us from walking in forgiveness is pride.  Have you noticed how the word pride is spelled with the letter “I” in the center?  Once a teacher went to a blackboard and wrote, pr-I-de. What do you see in the center? “Yes,” the teacher said, “‘I’ is always in the center of pride.”

The real base for the attitude of pride is self-centeredness. Being argumentative and defensive work hand in hand with pride, often creating division and fights. One Bible scholar wrote, “Pride is the great root of all unkind affections.” The scriptures say something very fearful about pride, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) The word “oppose” in Greek has a military meaning, “to rage in battle against.” So here we see how God feels about pride, He will use force to come against it: and no one can afford to be resisted by God!

One of the reasons the Lord has such strong feelings about pride is because of His death on the cross. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8)

Whether we are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, known or unknown, the ground at His Cross is flat. There are no special platforms, steps or chairs. Each person, no matter what their background, comes to receive the same selfless sacrifice of Christ in humility. As His disciples, our goal is to become more like Him, and He is so attractive. Meditate on the following scriptures and prayer to help shake out the rock of pride and walk with humble hearts.

Scripture:

“Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.” -Psalm 138:6

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.” -Proverbs 21:3-4

“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” -Matthew 23:12

Prayer for Pride:
“Jesus I ask you to forgive me for walking in pride. I desire to be humble like you are. Often I am tempted to argue and be defensive, but I ask that You help me to listen and to be open-hearted to correction. I thank You for Your word that says, ‘Come and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart’ and Master, I want to learn from You. I ask for a fresh strength to embrace the power of humility. To be patient when I am wronged. To honor You through my attitudes each day, that others might know Your love through my life. I thank You for Your help and for Your forgiveness.” In Jesus’ Name, amen.