Lesson 175: False Pride

  
Pastor J. W. Binion
Pvt. Edward F. Arthur Camp 1783 SCV
5th Ky. Infantry CSA

False Pride

Goes Before Destruction

Proverbs 16: 18-19 (New American Standard Version) tells us: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. How many times have you met people that were really struck on themselves? Do you think these people are genuine and sincere? Much of my experience with such people has been that they usually don’t do as much as they brag about; they don’t have as much as they claim. Their arrogance is normally a mask for a feeling of inferiority or shame. I can almost understand their reasoning for putting on airs (as my grandmother used to say). When one feels smaller than a snail and useless as used fire wood one will try to look bigger in the sight of others by exaggeration and embellishment.

Most of these people do not understand that everyone is important in the Lord’s sight. They miss the fact that God loved them so very much that He sent His only Son to die so we could have eternal life. Folks, if God loved us that much how can we be worthless or small? It is vitally important for those of us who have accepted the Lord as Saviour to understand that principle and share it with those who haven’t accepted Him. It is part of our duty as a born-again Christian to not only realize how important we are in God’s plan, but also to encourage the weak and fragile.

One of the many reasons given by people with addiction problems for their using drugs and alcohol is that they feel unworthy, less-than, or like an outcast. Much of those feelings have been generated by their family and friends – imagine that; family and friends making someone they are supposed to love feel useless and unworthy. Are you guilty of such behavior? I hope not. But there is another group that also makes these folks feel this way – probably the worst group to do something like that.

You have any idea who I am speaking of? Well, I’ll give you a hint – they meet once or twice a week, pray to God, sing hymns, and praise the Lord. Yep, I speak of the members of the household of faith. The very group that ought to be lifting up people and showing them the love of Jesus condemn and snub those that “don’t fit in” all in the name of religion. Kinda reminds me of the older brother in the story of the prodigal son.

Then there is the person who walks around with his nose in the air and brags about his Christian walk. All the while this guy never lifts a hand to help someone in need, short changes the Lord when the collection plate is passed, and gossips about the other folks in his church family and at work. Kinda reminds me of the Pharisee in the temple extolling his righteousness before the Lord and thanking God he is not the poor sinner in the corner.

Ever know a reenactor that likes to brag about much he knows about the War of Southern Independence and when put to it, he still thinks the war was all about slavery? I don’t know about you but, these people kinda make me ill.

When the “Preacher” penned the words in Proverbs he was speaking to those people who put more store in words than actions. Solomon was trying to tell his son that the Lord God looked into the heart and not at artificial behaviors. My dear ones, I suggest to you that we must not allow false pride to keep us from serving God’s plan for our lives. Neither should we allow such haughty thoughts to enter our minds and keep us from serving our fellowman. We should never allow the “holier – than – thou” attitude to keep us from seeking the lost; don’t let that attitude keep you from welcoming a stranger into your fellowship. Never allow the sin of false pride keep you from sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

My grandmother used to tell me that there was no person in this world who was better than I was; AND I was no better than anyone else – so be kind to everyone and treat them with respect. She also used to say that people who walked around with their noses in the air were probably smelling something bad (and it was usually right under their nose).

Taking pride in a job well done is not what the “Preacher” was talking about – he was referring to taking pride and having a haughty spirit over things that we have no claim to. Taking pride in the accomplishments of our ancestors is a good thing – it is not something we did. Taking the things they did and making ourselves prideful as if we did them is not a good thing.

When you take the field, take pride in the fact that your ancestors were brave men and women and that they sacrificed life, fortune, and property – NEVER HONOR – for the cause of freedom. You are on that field to honor their memory, not to be haughty about it. I hope you got the point – and if you see me getting “too big for my britches” let me know. The Lord knows that I am an unworthy sinner - except for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am humbled each time I stand (or write) before you and deliver a message from the Lord – just to think He called me to do HIS work, it makes me shiver with awe for the Mighty God. God bless each of you – see ya on the field. Pastor J. W. Binion – chaplain, 5th KY Inf. Reg. CSA & Pvt. E. F. Arthur Camp 1783 SCV.