PRIDE VS. HUMILITY

PRIDE VS. HUMILITY: (written by james allan ; feb.6/2010.)

(written by james allan; collaborated with val francis; finished result)

One of the worst causes of error prevailing today is spiritual pride. it is the main door through which the devil enters the hearts of those who zealously seek for Christ’s advancement. It is the main way Satan wields deception to take hold of the heart and hinder the work of God.
 
Until this infirmity is cured, medicine (the working of God through the holy spirit) is applied in vain. Pride stops god from being able to work in a hardened heart, as this heart does not grasp the word of god with discernment. Once the heart is so hardened, nothing can cure any other spiritual condition. a prideful person can read, pray, study as much as they want; all this will do is make them more prideful. It is like a veil put over the eyes that causes spiritual blindness.
 
Pride is much more difficult to discern than any other spiritual condition. The very nature of pride itself describes numerous people who have too high an opinion of themselves. It is no surprise then, that such people are unaware of this condition. They think their opinion have just grounds and therefore, they deceive themselves. As a result, there is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful or unteachable. The very nature of pride is to work arrogance in the heart and drive away any suspicion of evil respecting itself. once more, a prideful person believes he is beyond reproach.
 
Spiritual pride takes many shapes and forms, wrapping the heart in constant layers of deception. Take off one layer and there is another underneath. Depending on the hardness of the heart, there are numerous layers of spiritual blindness. If these are pointed out to a prideful person, they will not accept correction. Therefore, it is necessary to have the greatest watch imaginable over our hearts and to earnestly cry to God for his help daily. The man who trusts his own heart is a fool and deceives himself. He needs to come to a place of humility in order to see his desperate need for god.
 
Since spiritual pride in its own nature is secretive, it cannot be well detected immediately. For an example, If two people meet and have a casual conversation, one person may not discern that the other is full of themselves. It is best identified by its effects and over time it can be seen by many. Pride just seems to ooze out of a person like a cancerous sore.
 

 I will examine some of these effects of pride and contrast them with the virtue of Christian humility.

 
The spiritually proud person feels that he does not need instruction. he knows everything about everything, and therefore, he despises those who try to bring any form of correction into his life. On the contrary ,the humble person easily receives instruction. He is cautious in his estimate of himself, aware of how apt he is to go astray. If it is suggested to him that he has erred, he accepts the possibility that this may be true. He does not get angry with the one bringing correction, but he examines his own heart.
 
Proud people tend to look at and speak about the sins of others. Humble people however, are silent about the sins of others or speak of them with empathy or in prayer in private. (they would not gossip about others) The proud person finds fault with other believers for their lack of progress, giving them a feeling of superiority. In contrast, the humble person will examine his own heart and concentrate on his own walk with god, not having time nor the desire to find fault with others.
 
Spiritually proud people judge others with the harshest, most critical words. (example: you can’t be a christian because you smoke. You can’t be a christian because you don’t attend church regularly) Commonly, their criticism is directed against not only the unbeliever, but especially at god’s children. In contrast, Even with the evidence of God’s glory working in their lives, the humble recognize and are aware of their own sinful nature. Their exhortations to fellow Christians and unbelievers alike, are given in a loving and humble manner. they treat others with as much love, respect and gentleness as Christ treats them.
 
Spiritual pride often causes people to adopt a different way of speaking or behaviour. True humility though, will be firm in its duty ---going the way of heaven alone even if all the world forsake him. He does not delight in being different, but knows sometimes he must travel a lonely road. He is chooses to become all things to all men, to yield to others, to conform to them in order to help them, except he will not walk in sin.
 
Proud people take great notice of opposition and insult and are prone to speak with bitterness and contempt.(how dare you speak to me like that! Don’t you know I’m doing everything right!) Christian humility, on the other hand, allows a person to be more like his blessed Lord. For the humble Christian, the more furious the world is against him, the more silent and still he will be; unless it is in his prayer closet and then he will not be silent.
 
It is natural for a person under the influence of pride to take all the respect that is paid to them. If others yield in deference to him, he is open to it and joyfully accepts this treatment. In fact, he comes to expect such treatment and forms an ill opinion of those who do not give him what he feels he deserves, which is much attention from many people. One under the influence of spiritual pride is more apt to instruct others than to ask questions.
 
The humble person knows he needs help ; whereas the spiritually proud person thinks that everybody needs their help. The humble person can empathize with another’s pain, will petition god for wisdom and then offer kind and gentle support and advice. spiritual pride however, chooses to command and warn with authority, expecting immediate obedience to what they advise without compassion or empathy. Spiritual pride causes people to believe their ways are wiser than god’s ways and allows them to treat others with contempt. On the contrary, true humility causes people to seek god’s wisdom and guidance and to treat all men with honour and dignity.
 
In closing I am giving to you some scriptures from the word of god, which is the infallible truth by which all men ought to measure their character. I searched these out for myself today in writing this and you might find more for yourself. It is very important to read god’s word, but also I would recommend reading some books of those who have gone before us who have shared our great faith in god.
 

VERSES THAT APPLY TO THIS STUDY ARE WRITTEN FOR YOU BELOW

 

Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 (nkjv)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil

Proverbs 3: 5-7(NKJV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

ROMANS 12: 1-3(NKJV)

When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’

Then He will save the humble person.

JOB 22:29

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “ God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

I PETER 5:5

Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:11-17

But as for me, I would seek God,

And to God I would commit my cause—

Who does great things, and unsearchable,

Marvelous things without number.

He gives rain on the earth,

And sends waters on the fields.

He sets on high those who are lowly,

And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

Job 5:8-11

For further study read these: Deuteronomy 8:17-20 & Deuteronomy 9:4-29