Pride is one of the most enormous of sins. This is because it is a denial of God and His work. Let us see how this is so.
Our God, Jesus Christ, is our creator. In Him we live, move and have our being. Every breath we draw, every muscle we move, every idea we entertain, every decision we make we do by His power and by His leave. It is true that we have agency, but it is a gift from Him. Those who are strong, beautiful, intelligent, wealthy, or healthy are so by the gift and power of God. Man has the power to expend and destroy these gifts, but no man can gain any of them on his own, without the help of God.
Pride is the affliction wherein one takes credit to himself for his possessions, attainments or accomplishments. Perhaps he has labored long and hard for his wealth and feels he is fully justified in taking a little glory. But what he fails to realize is that though he might have supplied the ten percent, the Lord has given the ninety percent to fill his purse. Many there be who labor even longer and harder, and perhaps with more careful thought, whom the Lord does not choose to reward with money. To be proud in our own labors and self-sufficiency is selfishness; this is the seed of inability to share one’s substance with others, as becometh saints.
Perhaps the worst pride is to be self-wise. This would be to pretend that we can of ourselves know what is best or right to do. But the beginning of true wisdom is to know of the true God and how to come unto Him to gain light and truth.
The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to come down into the depths of humility, recognizing our own nothingness and submitting our whole selves unto the Savior: our heart, might, mind and strength. Then in Him we can do what is right, and our pride and glorying will be to bear humble witness of Him before all men.
The guidelines:
- Never pat yourself on the back.
- Always give the credit to the Lord.
- Thank the Lord in all things.