Pride of Life

https://odb.org/MY/2022/06/14/deceived

John cautioned us to be aware and to beware of 3 things in life – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). All are equally bad but I think it is the last one that afflicts most of us and have the potential to deceive and destroy us.

I think it is to a certain extent understandable if we do not know God and thus attribute our success to our hardwork, talent and ingenuity. We worked hard to be where we are today, bending the rules whenever it is necessary to achieve our goals as the end justifies the means. No matter what, we want to achieve that position, accumulate that wealth, own that house, drive that car. We did that all on our own and thus it is difficult not to be proud of ourselves or our achievements. Even then, even if our success has nothing to do with God (as perceived by us) pride can make us overconfident and becoming too sure of ourselves that we might overestimate our own capabilites and take on more than we can chew.

But if we know God, there is really no excuse to only pride ourselves for our own successes. For surely Jesus was in the equation, carrying our burdens, rescuing us when we fall, protecting us from the pitfalls of life. And yet we do see Christians being so full of themselves that they forget that God was a major factor in who they are today. Sadly this affliction is not limited to believers who are successful in the world whether business or corporate but also those in ministry. A famous Christian personality can be proud because he believes that he is so special before God that he didn’t need God anymore. He feels he can function and do well in fulfilling God’s plans for him by just relying on the gifting and anointing God gave him when he actually should still be depending on God all the time.

I just saw this phrase in a movie – as extraordinary as everyone else. We may be special before God, so is everyone else. God gives us special talents, gifts and anointing – He also gives the same to others although in differebt measures. Whatever successes we have achieved, always remember that it is by the grace of God. He is the one who put us where we are today to achieve His plans for us. Always go back to the Lord for guidance so that we are able to hear His still small voice all the time. If we go wrong or have strayed, repent and admit it before God and change our ways. Don’t let our own pride come between us and Christ. Let’s be the most humble before God and man as pride of life deceives and destroys.