Understanding Pride
Pride is something we all struggle with at some point, whether we recognize it or not. The Bible tells us, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). But often, we confuse pride with confidence, or we allow pride to creep into our lives in subtle ways. Today, I want to talk about how pride can mask itself, how it can distort our understanding of God's Word, and how servanthood can help us guard against it.
The Deception of Pride
We’ve all heard it said, “Don’t judge.” People love to quote Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” But here’s what we need to understand: that passage isn’t telling us to ignore wrongdoings or to accept every behavior. It’s a warning to judge rightly and with humility. In fact, the Bible also says, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). We must discern what kind of fruit is being produced in someone’s life.
The enemy is crafty, twisting the Word just enough to confuse us. A half-truth is often the most dangerous lie. Satan, the “father of lies” (John 8:44), uses partial truths to deceive us, making it harder for us to see what’s really happening. This is why we need to go back to the source—God’s Word—and let it be our foundation.
Pride vs. Knowledge
There’s a difference between pride and knowledge. Pride says, “I’m too good to step into that mess.” But knowledge says, “If I step in that, I’ll get dirty.” Pride puffs us up, while knowledge helps us make wise decisions. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8:1 that “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” It's not about how much we know, but how much we love, serve, and remain humble before God.
I know who I am in Christ—flawed but forgiven. My confidence isn’t rooted in pride; it’s rooted in knowing that Christ strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Pride and confidence are often mistaken for one another, but true confidence in Christ never leads to arrogance. Instead, it leads to humility, knowing that we are nothing without Him.
The Shepherd and His Sheep
God gave me a revelation about shepherding. A shepherd doesn’t walk in front of the flock, showing off his leadership. No, he walks behind the flock, guiding, protecting, and correcting them with his staff. That staff has two purposes—one end is for guiding, and the other for pulling back a sheep when it strays too far. Sometimes, God has to use trials and tribulations to poke us back on track. It’s not punishment; it’s His loving correction.
When a sheep constantly strays, the shepherd will sometimes break its leg, bond with it by carrying it, and then heal it. The process is painful, but it ensures the sheep never strays again. God’s discipline works in a similar way. When He breaks us, He mends us stronger than we were before. Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, “The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.”
Pride in Our Culture
Our culture has twisted the meaning of pride. One of the first covenants God made with man was with Noah. He promised to never flood the earth again, and the sign of that covenant was the rainbow (Genesis 9:13). But today, the world has hijacked that symbol. Pride has become something to boast about, something celebrated, but not in the way God intended.
This isn’t about hate; it’s about truth. We are called to love people, even those who disagree with us or live in ways contrary to God’s Word. But love doesn’t mean accepting sin. True love speaks the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable (Ephesians 4:15). We must stand firm in God’s Word, especially when it comes to the values we hold and the leaders we choose. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” When we support leaders who stand against God’s principles, we become partakers in their actions.
The Importance of Servanthood
Jesus, the King of Kings, showed us the ultimate example of servanthood. In John 13, we see Jesus take off His outer garments, wrap a towel around His waist, and wash His disciples’ feet. Even knowing that Judas would betray Him, Jesus still washed his feet. That’s servanthood. That’s love.
If Jesus, the Son of God, can humble Himself to wash the feet of those who would betray and deny Him, how much more should we humble ourselves to serve one another? Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Beware of the Python Spirit
There’s something deeper here—the Python spirit, a spirit of deception and pride that strangles the life out of believers. It’s sneaky and subtle, but it thrives on pride. When we allow pride to take root in our hearts, it becomes harder to hear the voice of God. Pride creates a barrier, like scales on a serpent, that blocks God’s presence from penetrating our hearts.
In Acts 16:16-18, Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination, often referred to as a Python spirit. This spirit wrapped itself around her, controlling her life, much like how pride wraps around our hearts if we allow it. But just as Paul cast out that spirit, we too must cast out the spirit of pride from our lives.
Breaking Free from Pride
Pride will keep you trapped, like quicksand. The more you struggle, the deeper you sink. The only way to escape is to stop fighting and let God pull you out. He’s ready to extend His hand, just like Jesus did to Peter when he was sinking in the water (Matthew 14:30-31). But we must humble ourselves and reach out in faith.
James 4:6 tells us, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” If we want to experience God’s favor, we need to let go of pride and embrace humility. It’s not about lowering our self-worth; it’s about recognizing that without God, we are nothing. True humility is acknowledging our dependence on Him.
Conclusion: A Call to Humility
So, where does that leave us? Pride is sneaky, but God’s Word exposes it for what it is. Pride leads to destruction, but humility leads to life. Jesus showed us the way through His example of servanthood. If we follow His path, we will be lifted up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).
Let’s commit to breaking free from pride, to living as servants of God, and to walking in humility with one another. When we humble ourselves, God can use us in mighty ways to serve His Kingdom. We are all flawed, but we are all loved by a perfect God who disciplines, restores, and strengthens us when we humble ourselves before Him.
Let’s go forward in humility and servanthood, trusting God to guide us and break the chains of pride in our lives. Amen.
Comentarios