by powerjacob at www.sxc.hu

In the last post, I wrote about the delusion of pride.  The main point was that pride distorts our thinking and our actions.  We can easily spot pride in others, but are oblivious to it in our own lives.

God’s answer to the problem of pride is humility (see James 4:6-10).  The challenge is gaining the perspective to see it in our own lives and then having the courage to change.   Humility tears away the delusion and allows us to have a proper perspective.

How do we avoid the delusion of pride?

• Listen to others.  Seek to not be defensive, but honestly give credence to what others say. Remember Nathan’s words to David, “You are the man (2 Sam. 12:7).”  We need to rely on others because our perspective, as David’s was at the time is twisted too.
• Remember humility is a decision, not just a feeling.  It is about action as much as attitude (see Jesus washing feet – John 13).   We must decide to be humble.
• Always seek to maintain a healthy view of yourself.  Don’t think too little or too much of yourself (Romans 12 and Philippians 2)
• Develop an “other-first” mentality, rather than a “me-first” mentality.
• Apply the Bible to YOUR life (Heb. 4:12).  During a sermon or Bible study, do you make application of the text to someone else or yourself?  To avoid the delusion of pride, we have to allow the word to first cut our own hearts.  Jesus tells us to get the log out of our own eye (Mat.  7:5).
• Pray for God to reveal your pride.  For the Christian the way up is down!  We are commanded,  “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you (James 4:10).”
• Select role models that are Christ-like and humble.  I never will forget a lesson I learned as a young preacher.

An older preacher at a large church offered me this advice, “When i was young I looked up to the preachers at the large churches who spoke throughout the brotherhood.  They were my heroes.  But now that I am an old man preaching at a large church, my heroes are now those unknown missionaries working on foreign soils or the dedicated preacher in the remote western states who serve diligently, faithfully, and humbly.”  Though, I have looked to some of the more well-known brothers at times, i try to keep this advice in mind.  Have humble mentors, men and women who the world and sadly even the church may not always notice, but observe their humility and do likewise.  

The issue of pride can really be boiled down to Jesus’ statement in the garden, “not as I will, but as you will. (Mat. 26:39)”  This is kingdom living.  It is humbly rejecting the delusion of pride, and having an accurate assessment of ourselves, God, and others.

What more would you add to help us all avoid pride?