Pride

Pride: The Bottom of All Great Mistakes

Pride is everywhere. It is the root of many human ills and weaknesses.

Pride masquerades as charity. "Charity feeds the poor, so does pride; charity builds a hospital, so does pride. In this they differ, charity gives her glory to God, pride takes her glory from man." -Quarles

Pride wants to look good rather than be good. Adding pride to service changes "selfless service" to "self-service."

Pride pretends to be humble. Pride is the darling sin that apes humility. "None have more pride than those who dream they have none. You may labor against vainglory till you conceive that you are humble, and the fond conceit of your humility will prove to be pride in full bloom." -Spurgeon

Pride is competitive. "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man ... It is the comparison that makes you proud; the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone." -C.S. Lewis

Pride is not easily taught. A proud person won't admit a mistake. A proud person does not like to be wrong. The proud do not receive correction easily. "Pride is increased by ignorance; those assume the most who know the least." -Gay

Pride takes people into debt. The proud want today's pleasures on tomorrow's labors. The proud live beyond their means.

Pride is ungrateful. "A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves." -Beecher

Pride holds grudges. Pride nurses hurts. It is easily offended and is slow to forgive. Healing waits while pride exacts its due.

Pride elevates self and diminishes others. "The disesteem and contempt of others is inseparable from pride. It is hardly possible to overvalue oneself but by undervaluing our neighbors." -Claredon

Pride is disobedient. "Disobedience is a prideful struggle against someone in authority over us. A proud person hates that there is someone over him. He thinks this lowers his position." -Ezra Taft Benson

Pride is contentious. Pride justifies, fights, argues, abuses and rebels. Being "right" is the kindling that starts the flame of anger.

Pride inspires envy. "Pride loves no man and is beloved by none. It is the friend of the flatterer, the mother of envy, the nurse of fury ... It hates superiors, scorns inferiors and owns no equal ... Pride defeats its own end, by bringing man who seeks esteem and reverence, into contempt." -Bolingbrooke

Pride drives a wedge between people. "There is a diabolical trio existing in the natural man, implacable, inextinguishable ... pride, envy and hate. Pride makes us fancy we deserve all the goods that others possess, envy that some should be admired while we are overlooked, and hate, because all that is bestowed on others, diminishes the sum we think is due ourselves." -Colton

Pride is selfish. Pride seeks after power, glory and money. Once this is obtained then conceit, boastfulness, arrogance and haughtiness quickly follow. The proud find pride in others and do not recognize it in themselves. Pride is the self in self-fulfillment, self-gratification and self-seeking.

Pride lashes out against the more fortunate. The proud find fault, gossip and backbite. The proud covet. They are jealous and envious. They disparage another's virtues. They withhold praise, gratitude and encouragement that might lift another. The proud think, "If you are a success, then I am a failure."

Pride comes between man and God. The proud cannot accept God's authority to direct their lives. They dislike any bridle other than their own over their desires, appetites and passions. "The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren't interested in changing their opinions to agree with God ... The proud stand more in fear of man's judgments than God's judgments." -Ezra Taft Benson

Pride is blind. Spiritual pride is deadly. Man thinks he is close to God when in reality he is far away and doesn't know it. It is like being lost and not knowing it. There is no awareness of the need to search for a better way. "Pride is a vice, which pride itself inclines every man to find in others, and to overlook in himself." -Johnson

Pride is everywhere. Pride's foundation is built on achievement, talent, beauty, intellect, power and wealth. Its seduction comes from recognition, praise and approval of others. Pride is the Achilles heel of an otherwise well-lived life.

Pride is everywhere. It lives in huts as well as mansions - sometimes it is too close to home. "I have been more and more convinced, the more I think about it, that, in general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes." -Ruskin

Copyright 2009 by Val Farmer

A Lease on Our Life

While the brother was speaking, I had to think ... as in the natural way, many of us are more privileged than others, but let us consider our life as something shared unto us by God. He created us not out of our own power, but out of the power of God and He placed within us a living soul.

In other words, our life is not our own. We have a lease on our life from our God, which will be terminated at His good will.

Let us consider, as in the natural way, when those that are not so privileged to own a business or farm, but have a lease from another man. Then we are more concerned that we take care of the same, and are concerned that our employer or landlord might be satisfied with us.

We are reminded of where the Lord spoke in one place that the one that would not use his talent, it would be taken away from him and given unto another one. It is that way in the natural way - if one is not concerned and does not strive to please the one that is over him, it is taken away from him. And so it is in the spiritual way.

It is up to us that we use this life to God's honor and praise and that we would use our natural body and give it unto our own dear Lord and Saviour as a reasonable sacrifice; for as we sing in that hymn, "What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear."

--Sermon Excerpt: Elder Bro. J.B. (1943)

What Makes Satan Tremble

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.

Were half the breath oft vainly spent,
To heaven in supplication sent,
Our cheerful song would oftener be,
"Hear what the Lord has done for me."
--Hymns of Zion #202 vs. 3-4

Let us not vainly spend our breath in worrying or in gossip, but rather, usefully, in supplication to our great God.

Our Light Affliction

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
–II Cor.4:17-18

If we could see through God’s eyes, through the lens of eternity, we would know that no matter how heavy or grievous our affliction is to us now, it is light because we bear it but for a moment!

And then God piles on another promise – the light affliction we are bearing only for a moment of time is working for us a far more exceeding glory in eternity.

The fullness of this truth only dawns on us when we concentrate not on the things which are seen and are temporal, but focus our minds on the things which are not seen, which are eternal.

Be Up and Doing

Let us then be up and doing;
Satan would our work undo,
And the glow of love subduing,
Quench our joy in Jesus too,
That we may
Not each day
Live to honor God alway.
--Zion's Harp #159 vs. 11

Earthquakes

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. --Luke 21:11

And there were voices, and thunders and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ...And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. --Revelation 16:18, 20

The devastation wrought by the recent earthquake is breathtaking. The power of God is so evident. It is hard to believe that some people will not be humbled by God's power manifested, but will rather blaspheme Him.

As great as the earthquakes in divers places are now, according to Revelation, they pale in comparison to the final earthquake that will shake the earth in the last days.

Yet this truth remains and will continue to comfort us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. ." --Psalm 46:1-3

Possess Your Souls in Patience

... they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
In your patience possess ye your souls.
--Luke 21:12-19

Christ Is Our Light

Though Thou lead us through the darkness,
Thou art evermore our light.
When death comes in awful stillness,
We behold Thy face so bright.

Thus we love Thee and adore Thee,
Thou art worthy of our love.
When in death and pain and sorrows,
Let us trust in Thee above.
--Zion's Harp #18 vs. 8-9

I Do Not Understand

Mary and Martha could not understand what their Lord was doing. Both of them said to Him, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Back of it all, we seem to read their thought: "Lord, we do not understand why you could have stayed away so long. We do not understand how you could let death come to the man whom you loved. We do not understand how you could let sorrow and suffering ravage our lives when your presence might have stayed it all. Why did you not come? It is too late now, for already he has been dead four days!"

And to it all Jesus had but one great truth: "You may not understand; but I tell you, if you believe, you will see."

Abraham could not understand why God should ask the sacrifice of the boy; but he trusted. And he saw the glory of God in his restoration to his love. Moses could not understand why God should keep him forty years in the wilderness, but he trusted; and he saw when God called him to lead forth Israel from bondage.

Joseph could not understand the cruelty of his brethren, the false witness of a perfidious woman, and the long years of an unjust imprisonment; but he trusted, and he saw at last the glory of God in it all.

Jacob could not understand the strange providence which permitted the same Joseph to be torn from his father's love, but he saw the glory of God when he looked into the face of that same Joseph as the viceroy of a great king, and the preserver of his own life and the lives of a great nation.

And so, perhaps in your life. You say,"I do not understand why God let my dear one be taken. I do not understand why affliction has been permitted to smite me. I do not understand the devious paths by which the Lord is leading me. I do not understand why plans and purposes that seemed good to my eyes should be baffled. I do not understand why blessings I so much need are long delayed."

Friend, you do not have to understand all God's ways with you. God does not expect you to understand them. You do not expect your child to understand, only believe. Some day you will see the glory of God in the things which you do not understand. --J.H. McC.
--Excerpt: Streams in the Desert

Glory in Tribulations

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. --Romans 5:3-5

Do we glory in our tribulations? Or do we simply endure them?

Are we bitter or angry at God for difficulties or heartaches in our lives? Or do we rejoice because we know that these situations are working patience, experience and hope in our lives?