Pride is the worst viper in the heart. It is the first sin that ever entered the universe. It is secret, deceitful, and unsearchable in its ways of working—more so than any sort of lust. It is ready to mix with everything in our lives. Nothing is so hateful to God, and contrary to the spirit of the Gospel, or has such dangerous consequences as pride. There is no one sin that does so much to let the devil into the hearts of the saints and exposes them to his delusions.
Spiritual pride is like a cancer in the body of Christ (the church), having a certain self-confident boldness before God and men. Spiritual pride takes offence easily, and put on pretenses as desiring to be accounted better than others. Spiritual pride ministers in a harsh spirit. It is frequent with a judgment of other’s opinions, their conduct, advice, coldness, silence, caution, moderation, prudence, etc. Pride says they are from the devil or from hell. Spiritual pride makes a person hungry for attention.
If others show submission or yield to pride, it openly and freely receives it. It becomes natural for pride to expect such treatment and to take notice if a person fails to do so—and to have an ill opinion of those who do not give him that which he feels he deserves. One can really make a case in saying that pride is in, or is the root of most sin.
When the church becomes sick with the cancer of pride, we can’t stand the thought of people thinking we aren’t as rich or successful or as talented and deserving as others. When the devil plows the soil of the church, all kinds of wickedness germinate and grow, e.g. envy, bitterness, strife, deceit, hypocrisy, slander, and greed. The church becomes the ugly part of our souls that causes us to be more concerned about our reputations and ourselves than we are about Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
My weekly prayer is that the reader of this commentary becomes spiritually inspired of God. Become a Prayer Partner with Expressions of Faith. Send for a copy of our ‘intercessory prayer’ and a daily ‘re-dedication of your life’ prayer. Contact: Expressions of Faith at P.O. Box 330127, Nashville, Tenn. 37203; or e-mail <w310watson@aol.com>. God bless!
