Every Believer’s Battle
Pastor Randy Corbin, Transitional Lead Pastor
| It is an insidious enemy, often easily spotted in others, but more difficultly discerned in ourselves. Pride. I don’t know of anyone who admires it. It repulsed us in grade school when Barbara bragged about her test scores and Bobby boasted about his athletic prowess. It equally repelled us in our teen years when Jim was a “know it all” about tools, trees, trains, and you name it. And, we have certainly not outgrown our distaste for this ugly trait. We find it hard to stifle yawns when all a dinner partner wants to do is to talk of himself, his children, his church, or her experiences, her great bargains, and her hometown. But, what about our slips and worse, our blatant hubris to be seen by everyone? If we don’t once in a while openly puff up ourselves, what about when we do it under the guise of a supportive story? “Oh, yes, I do recall that election because it was when I was CEO/VP/Foreman/Board Member of XYZ company.” (So, what was I really wanting to communicate?) Indeed, the heart is deceitfully wicked. Beyond open bragging, and indirect name and achievement dropping, there is that which goes on in our own hearts. There, pride can run unbridled as we tell ourselves and even our Lord how effective, keen, agile, attractive, and articulate we are. We can even experience pride when we commend ourselves at squelching prideful thoughts. Is there any end to the subtlety of this sin? I can still recall the pain that jolted me some time ago while tread-milling. I had been prayerfully reflecting on a long-time challenge to which I have been giving some attention for quite some time. As I rejoiced in the progress, I was horrified by a thought that rose up somewhere in my heart. “I guess all my strategizing has paid off – I have been smart enough to figure this out after all.” Like a bank robber caught with exploding ink all over his hands, I was guilty as can be – PRIDE! What shame I felt! I immediately repented but was chagrined by my failure. I recall being impressed that at one time Dr. John Piper (former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, St. Paul, MN) and his staff took a whole day of fasting and prayer to war against pride, both the boulders and pebbles of it. They wanted all evidence of it removed from their lips and their lives. It is my personal conviction that pride is the most crucial of sins because it is the foundation of every other sin. Conquer it and it protects us from all manner of sins. So, join me in the constant fight against personal pride. It is every believer’s battle! |
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