The Pride That Hides (update)

(The following is from Marisa F.)

Pride is any form of too much inward focus. 

It can look different in each person’s life. We most often think that pride is something that keeps us from giving our full allegiance to Jesus Christ as King, usually because we see ourselves as the king over our own lives and have no need for God. The majority of people who have not yet committed their lives to Jesus struggle with this form of pride.  If we are able to overcome this form of pride, that does not mean we have won the battle. The temptation of pride follows us into our new life in Jesus Christ. 

Perhaps you were born a leader, love taking control of a room, extroverted, a people person with high confidence. You may be doing great things such as teaching Sunday school, raising your own children in the Lord, leading Bible study, or serving every need. Your biblical/theological knowledge might be pretty impressive and you are raising up disciples into laborers for God’s Kingdom. What great things! But who is getting the credit and acknowledgment? You? Or your Maker?

“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” ~John 8:17

Most of us may think we do not struggle with pride after reading the two examples above. We may have someone in mind that fits one of those descriptions and could be thinking, “Oh, that person’s confidence just leads them right into the deepest pride. They take all the credit for everything they do and do not think they need God because they are the god of their own life.” Or maybe we think of our church family members and start to see the spiritual pride that arises in leadership, the activities and growth we talked about earlier. 

This leads right into the third form of pride that I myself am a culprit of: fear of being inadequate or frozen with insecurity. We might be thinking, “phew! Thank God I do not fall prey to all that nasty pride. Gosh, actually I am just the opposite. My self-esteem and confidence are so low. It is very hard for me to speak up because I do not know too much and I do not want to be wrong. I would never give another girl spiritual advice let alone lead a small group.” However, this too is too much inward focus. 

Why do we give ourselves so much credit? If we have capabilities, those are from God. If we have inadequacies, God will show His glory all the more (see II Corinthians 12:1-10). What ever happened to the Almighty King we serve and the power of the Holy Spirit? When did we start thinking it was all in our might anyway? It is for God’s glory. Please join me in looking into a few scriptural examples in Moses’ life…

1. God chose Moses to be his messenger to go into Egypt but Moses questions God because of his doubt in himself.

“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am Ithat I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” -Exodus 3:10-12

Notice, God did not entertain his doubts of inadequacy as a worthy excuse. He redirected the focus and glory to Himself. 

2. Moses is instructed again in the same way, yet Moses again brings up his lack of ability.

“Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent,neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” ~Exodus 4:10-12

Notice again, God did not entertain his doubts of inadequacy as a worthy excuse. He does not affirm him by saying something like, “Oh come on Moses, you can do it, have confidence in yourself, you speak great!” God redirected the focus and glory to Himself to make His name known. God still expects Moses to obey despite his feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. 

God seems to orchestrate everything so that we must remain in Him and rely on His love (1 John 4:16) and His power (Acts 1:8) so that He may be glorified, not us (Isaiah 42:8). Moses had to redirect his focus from himself back to God and fully rely on the Lord and trust that He would accomplish what He said He would. Our call is to obey and remain upward focused, giving all credit to Jesus rather than inward focused, giving all credit to ourselves.

By: Marisa F.

Massachusetts