CROSSROADS – Pride ~ Humility
I met the sin of pride early
in my life, even before I went to school, Mom made me a beautiful dress. I don’t remember the details, just the
feeling while wearing that dress. The
day was Sunday and I proudly wore my new dress to church. A little boy watched me walk by, and
commented on how beautiful the dress was.
I remember lifting my head, and without a comment, walked by him with
disdain. Later I replayed that scene in
my mind. A five year old’s arrogance is
not a beautiful thing.
in my life, even before I went to school, Mom made me a beautiful dress. I don’t remember the details, just the
feeling while wearing that dress. The
day was Sunday and I proudly wore my new dress to church. A little boy watched me walk by, and
commented on how beautiful the dress was.
I remember lifting my head, and without a comment, walked by him with
disdain. Later I replayed that scene in
my mind. A five year old’s arrogance is
not a beautiful thing.
When I was 10 years old, the
sin of pride pounced upon my heart once more.
It was Easter Sunday night, and Mother and I played a piano duet for the
Prelude before church began. We had
worked very hard on the song. I wore my
new Easter shoes that night. I didn’t
make one mistake and felt so very proud.
As I left the stage, the slick soles of the shoes met the three
carpeted-steps. I slipped and fell with
a loud splat on the bare floor. I don’t
know where or how the verse came. I have
never been so humiliated as I was that night as I humbly crept to the front row
to sit for the rest of the service, muttering all the time, “Pride goeth before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
sin of pride pounced upon my heart once more.
It was Easter Sunday night, and Mother and I played a piano duet for the
Prelude before church began. We had
worked very hard on the song. I wore my
new Easter shoes that night. I didn’t
make one mistake and felt so very proud.
As I left the stage, the slick soles of the shoes met the three
carpeted-steps. I slipped and fell with
a loud splat on the bare floor. I don’t
know where or how the verse came. I have
never been so humiliated as I was that night as I humbly crept to the front row
to sit for the rest of the service, muttering all the time, “Pride goeth before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
After the celebration of my retirement
of teaching school for 31 years, someone asked me what I planned to do. Forever I can hear my voice speaking the
words that still haunt me….I will do what
I want, when I want, how I want. In
that moment, I knew that I sinned with that declaration. I saw weeks, months
and years of freedom to read what I wanted, learn about writing and follow all
the dreams I had. It has been seventeen
years, and I am no closer to finding closure in all I wanted to do. Now I
wonder, as the end of my life nears, will I finish all the things I wanted to
do after retirement before God calls me home?
of teaching school for 31 years, someone asked me what I planned to do. Forever I can hear my voice speaking the
words that still haunt me….I will do what
I want, when I want, how I want. In
that moment, I knew that I sinned with that declaration. I saw weeks, months
and years of freedom to read what I wanted, learn about writing and follow all
the dreams I had. It has been seventeen
years, and I am no closer to finding closure in all I wanted to do. Now I
wonder, as the end of my life nears, will I finish all the things I wanted to
do after retirement before God calls me home?
Where does this feeling of
pride come from that we are compelled to follow? Pride goes before destruction,
and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 God means what He says – literally. I learned the blessing of the 3 letter word,Yes, a humble and willing Yes.
I learned that a humble Yes
coupled with awareness of needs of others and a willing servant heart in the name
of Jesus is a pathway that overflows with Joy.
pride come from that we are compelled to follow? Pride goes before destruction,
and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 God means what He says – literally. I learned the blessing of the 3 letter word,Yes, a humble and willing Yes.
I learned that a humble Yes
coupled with awareness of needs of others and a willing servant heart in the name
of Jesus is a pathway that overflows with Joy.
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2.
Pride is complicated – and when we choose the fork
in the path that reads Pride, we can be assured of additional fellow travellers
such as judgement of others, independence, arrogance, covering up of faults and
controlling others. Pride is a pathway
of shadows and darkness. Pride causes us
to put others down – even God.
in the path that reads Pride, we can be assured of additional fellow travellers
such as judgement of others, independence, arrogance, covering up of faults and
controlling others. Pride is a pathway
of shadows and darkness. Pride causes us
to put others down – even God.
The path to Humility has difference set of
travellers as these two verses from Colossians sets out clearly. “Therefore, as the elect of God,
holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,
longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also
must do.” Colossians 3:12-13
travellers as these two verses from Colossians sets out clearly. “Therefore, as the elect of God,
holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,
longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also
must do.” Colossians 3:12-13
Humility is giving love and grace when
undeserved. Humility is about others and
pride is all about self. After my Mother
died in 1998, I felt rudderless – with no direction. I will forever be grateful to our Minister,
Jack, for asking me to give a ride to a young couple to church. It was a lesson I will never forget. When I forget self, I remember others.
undeserved. Humility is about others and
pride is all about self. After my Mother
died in 1998, I felt rudderless – with no direction. I will forever be grateful to our Minister,
Jack, for asking me to give a ride to a young couple to church. It was a lesson I will never forget. When I forget self, I remember others.
How can we avoid pride? We can consider the following questions and
find the answers.
find the answers.
- How
can I avoid the temptation of prideful living? - Look
for needs of others and fill those needs, forgetting self. - Where
can I begin? - Treat
those who serve you in a place of business with grace. - What
does the Bible teach about the way of treating others? - “Then
these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry
and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a
stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When
did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the
truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and
sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 37-40
Do not love this world
nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the
love of the Father in you. For the world offers
only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and
pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but
are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything
that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. I John 2:15-17
nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the
love of the Father in you. For the world offers
only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and
pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but
are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything
that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. I John 2:15-17
See others as
Jesus sees them. Love others as Jesus
loves them. Follow Jesus who left the
splendor of Heaven to be humiliated, spit upon, whipped and crucified. Who was this man? He is the Son of God, the only Son of
God. It is only through Him and the
shedding of His blood can we be saved.
There are those who, through their pride and wish to control what is, are
unable to understand the verse, “In the beginning was God…” He was, He is and He will ever be.
Jesus sees them. Love others as Jesus
loves them. Follow Jesus who left the
splendor of Heaven to be humiliated, spit upon, whipped and crucified. Who was this man? He is the Son of God, the only Son of
God. It is only through Him and the
shedding of His blood can we be saved.
There are those who, through their pride and wish to control what is, are
unable to understand the verse, “In the beginning was God…” He was, He is and He will ever be.
If the only
Bible I ever read was Psalm 19, I would believe. It is all I need to know: God will ever be. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies
display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after
night they make him known. They speak without a sound or
word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message
has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” His majesty and wondrous might is in His
Creation of our World.
Bible I ever read was Psalm 19, I would believe. It is all I need to know: God will ever be. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies
display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after
night they make him known. They speak without a sound or
word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message
has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” His majesty and wondrous might is in His
Creation of our World.
The
19th Psalm ends with these words… May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
19th Psalm ends with these words… May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Forever
my choice is made – The Pathway of Humility and Grace and Dignity and Love.
my choice is made – The Pathway of Humility and Grace and Dignity and Love.
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