As we consider the sin of inordinate affection toward man’s approval, pride is clearly revealed in our lives.
Here are some more thoughts to help the Holy Spirit draw attention to this problem in your life. (Again, quotations in italics, also see disclaimer in part I.)
Some points about pride
- Pride is the delusion that our achievements are primarily the results of our own doing. (OUCH! So true.) (1 Cor. 4:7)
- Pride is esteeming ourselves above and beyond the condition and proportion that God has appointed for us. (Gal. 6:3; Prov. 16:5)
- Pride is the desire to be esteemed by others above and beyond the condition and proportion that God has appointed for us. (Sensing a theme here?) (see example and consequences in Acts 5:1-5)
- Pride is the desire to exalt ourselves above and beyond the condition and proportion that God has appointed for us. (Is. 14:12-15)
Evidences of pride
- Boasting about and taking credit for your wisdom, abilities, and gifts as though they were acquired primarily by self-effort. (James 1:17; 1 Cor. 4:7)
- Selfishly using for your own glory and benefit the wisdom, abilities, and gifts that God has given you for HIs glory and the benefit of others. (Is. 42:8)
- Viewing God in such a way as to think He was made for your pleasure rather than vice versa (making God a means to an end rather than worshipping Him as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe.) (2 Cor. 5:9; Rom 14:7-8)
- Having a greater desire to be loved by others than for others to love God (wanting others to love you more than they love God.) (example in Jn. 12:42-43)
- Having a greater dependence on self than on God’s grace and provision. (Prov. 3:5-7, 28:26; Jer. 9:23-24)
- Resorting to defensiveness, blame-shifting, justification, or anger when lawfully reproved by another. (Prov. 1:7, 9:8, 10:17, 12:1)
- Having a censorious, critical, condemning, accusing, judgmental attitude toward others, especially those in positions of authority. (Lk. 6:36-37; James 4:11)
- Being more prone to command than to obey, to teach than to be taught, to speak than to listen. (Matt. 23:1-11)
- Having little or no respect for authority in general. (3 Jn 9-10)
- Becoming impatient or upset when contradicted in speech, especially publicly. (Prov. 15:12, 25:12)
- When wronged, being unwilling to forgive an offender who has not demonstrated extreme submission or repentance. (Lk. 17:3-4)
- Investing more resources to establish your own honor than to establish God’s honor. (Prov. 25:27; Matt. 6:19-21)
- Being unwilling to admit when you are wrong. (Prov. 13:10)
- Being inordinately curious about those things that you do not have a Biblical need to know. (Ps. 131:1)
- Being discontented with your position in life.
- Being ungrateful for God’s mercies. (example in Dan. 4:30)
- Failing to pray.
- Being oversensitive to correction. (Pro. 15:12)
- Having difficulty in being pleasing (because of excessively high expectations.
Read over this list, pray for God to reveal to you the insidious pride in your life. I guarantee the Holy Spirit will take away your blindness to this sin!
Laura started attending Lehigh Valley Baptist Church as a child when her family moved to the area. For years, her primary passion was in nursing and furthering her education. In the midst of pursuing a medical degree, God changed her plans and she married Jonathan Snow (read their story here). Now, she has discovered a special fulfillment from being a wife and a mother! Truly, God’s ways are always for our good and for His glory.