You may look at this photo and ask yourself, “What does this have to do with pride?” In my other blog posts, I’ve talked about self-centeredness and caring about others. This week we’re covering the sin of pride. Pride is this feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements. The sin of pride has some big consequences.
The opposite of pride is humility. Humility is thinking less of yourself than you ought, holding others in higher esteem than you hold yourself. We could all use a bigger dose of humility.
It can be good to be proud of your work or your children, and we should be, to a point. Anything excessive can lead to sin.
But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but [a]to himself alone, and not [b]to another.
–Galatians 6:4
You see, when you boast to others, that’s not good. When we boast, we are putting ourselves above others, which then causes others to think less of us, or of themselves.
To be humble is a very loving character trait. Putting others above yourselves is admirable.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;
Philippians 2:3
The Bible actually has a few more verses on pride: Isaiah 2:12, 23:9; James 4:6, 10; Jeremiah 9:23; Proverbs 8:13; 11:2, 13:10 16:5, 18,19, Romans 12:3, 16. (A little research for you when you finish this post.)
Action Steps
So what if we all made some resolutions in the New Year to be a little more humble, to lift others up instead of thinking of ourselves? What if we reached out to the elderly in our neighborhoods, those who cannot do for themselves and lifted their spirits? Can you find someone who lives alone and just reach out to befriend them? There is probably someone just down the street. We have four nursing homes in my hometown. How many do you have? There are residents who would love a visit. Schedule it in your planner. Put it on your calendar. We are all so “busy.” Busy with what? Ourselves? Sacrifice some time maybe once a week that you would usually spend on yourself.
I know many people who are retired, who are just staying home by themselves, especially during the winter months. They are enjoying being home alone by themselves. We weren’t created to stay home alone. We need to get out and build relationships. Not relationships of pride, but of humility, of serving each other in love. COVID did a number on quite a few of us. But it’s time to get out of our houses if we are able and start visiting those who are shut in and lonely. The holidays are especially hard to be alone. Let us go out and spread a little love and good news that there is hope!
If you are reading this and are feeling alone and aren’t able to get out, please call a local church. Many churches have a ministry geared just for visiting those who are lonely or shut in. Keep calling around till you find a church that has one.
We have some work to do as Christians. We have to do a better job. –That is the sin of pride –when we don’t make time for others. Let’s make time by making them more important than ourselves.
Hope you had a blessed holiday. Here’s to a New Year of hope and much love. God bless.–Barb
