Pride vs. Humility

This is not a subject that everyone understands but one I think everyone has experience with, that is the subject of Pride. 

The dictionary defines pride as a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. 

The Bible says God hates pride.  Proverbs 8:13 says,  To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
   I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 29:23 says:  A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of a humble spirit gains honor.

As Christians we can fall into the trap of pride and not even realize it.  It is easy to see on someone else.  We look to someone we know and say things like “They think they are so much better than everyone else because they are singing solo’s and they went on the missions trip”.  But do we see when we are being proud?  Do people view us as “Holier than Thou”.  Or do they see the humble spirit that is so thankful for God’s goodness and His salvation.

I have to bring to the attention one man who I believe to be a truly humble man of God.  Our children’s Pastor walks in humility, you can see it in him on a daily basis.  Now humility does not make him a lower person.  No, he knows who he is in Christ.  He knows he is more than a conqueror, a king and a priest, the child of the Most High God.  But at the same time he does not make anyone he is around feel that they are less because he is who he is.  On the contrary, he makes others feel good about who they are in Christ as well.

My dad has recently had the opportunity to talk with our children’s pastor and his exact words were, “He is just a regular guy”.  A big compliment coming from my dad, he feels that anyone in a spiritual authoritative position thinks that they are better than everyone else. 

Are we a “Regular Guy” to people around us?  Loving them with the love of Christ but not making them feel in any way that we are somehow superior because we have been a Christian for 40 years or we go to a specific church.  We need to make sure pride doesn’t get in the way of our walk.  Yes we are to be proud of Jesus and what he did for us on the Cross but don’t transfer that pride to who you are.

Look for others you see humility in and find out what makes them walk that way.  You may be very blessed to find out how they got there.