Saturday, August 18, 2018

Toxic Pride

Today in the men’s breakfast we talked about the level of toxicity in the pride that is in our life. Pride really is a dangerous thing in us. Of course, I’m not referring to the kind of pride that we have when our kids achieve some merit, or the kind of pride that comes when we talk about our wives great cooking. I’m talking about the kind of pride that makes us unbearable in public settings. The kind that  keeps us from being effective witnesses for Christ. The kind of pride that causes trouble nearly every where we bring it.

It causes trouble in our marriages. It makes us unteachable. It turns everything into a competition, or worse a debate. It is profoundly unChrist-like and a hindrance in every relationship. Phil 2.3-5 says, “
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...”

How did Jesus walk humbly? If the master is to be our template then we should wonder this very thing. Everywhere he went he was the center of attention. The sick looked to him for healing, the broken for fixing, the curious for entertainment, and the hypocrites to criticize. That would sure feed a fellas ego! Yet Christ remains a picture of the virtue of humility.

Pride springs from our insecurities. We all know that we are pretenders. We are posing for the public but internally we recognize our own flaws. Pride seems to be some twisted defense mechanism that is designed to protect our vulnerability. The world spends time trash talking to avoid the obvious, we are not all that we should be. Jesus not only was secure in his identity as God’s man, but he was also fully engaged with his purpose. Everything he did he did for those he “came to seek and serve.” In addition he was constantly checking in with his Father for a critique of his behavior. Ever notice how Pride isn’t noticed until we blurt out something stupid from our mouths. It hides down in the dark recesses of ou hearts.

Pride blinded the Pharisees from knowing who Jesus was, and from being effective at their positions. Humility on the other hand, takes a great deal of managing, introspection, and self awareness. Further, humility has to be walked out methodically each day. It is birthed in prayerful reflection on Jesus and released in small doses as we focus on the others that we are to serve. Humility serves others.

God help us to be men who walk in humility.