Pride is a deceptive resident of every human heart. Paul admonished each of the believers in Rome regarding spiritual gifts “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3). He reiterated that warning of self-deception to the churches of Galatia. “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3).
In the Old Testament, Obadiah, the prophet, testified against Edom “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the cliffs of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, who shall bring me down to the ground?” (Obadiah 3). The capital city of Edom, Petra, was literally carved out of the rock high above the ground and, consequently, the Edomites believed they were safe from attack. But they did not count on God. “Though thou exalt thyself [through pride] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD” (Obadiah 4).
Pride is deceitful because it precludes us from seeing ourselves as we are before God. We tend to see ourselves in comparison to others. For example, I see myself as a better outfielder than others on my ball team or I see myself as a more competent accountant than those in my office. Fill in the character or physical quality of your own choosing and you must agree that we most often see ourselves as better than our neighbor. Frankly, there may be occasions where such assertions have a measure of truth, but that does not diminish the resulting deception. Paul, through the Spirit of God, warned the Corinthians “For we dare not…compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Such comparisons are both natural and dangerous. Why is that?
In the first place, all that we are and have comes from God, as Paul reminded and rebuked the Corinthian believers. “For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (I Corinthians 4:7). Moses likewise warned the Israelites as they were about to enter the promised land and lay claim to the blessings God had for them there that they “remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Whether it be natural talents, education, skills, social standing, material blessings, or prestige, it all comes from God.
David, king of Israel, said it well. “Both riches and honor come of thee…and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all…for all things come of thee” (I Chronicles 29:12-14). Consequently, a more sobering and accurate view of ourselves comes from seeing God as he is. It is from that comparison that we see ourselves as we truly are. Isaiah testified that he saw “the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple… And one [seraphim] cried unto another, and said, holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory…then said I [Isaiah], Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips…for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1-5). It is natural to compare ourselves with others, but who can compare to God?
How do you see yourself?
From the Chaplain 