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Response
A minor league baseball player traveling to visit his family struck up a conversation with an older gentleman seated next to him on the plane. The rookie was pleased when his traveling companion expressed an interest in baseball, so the young ballplayer began boasting about his athletic skills on the field. During the flight, the bush leaguer bragged about his daring stolen bases, the well-connected balls smacked out of the park, and those diving catches that turned a double into an out. As the plane prepared to land, the big-talking minor league rookie learned that the polite gentleman who had listened so intently was Hank Aaron, the Hall of Famer whose unparalleled major league baseball career spanned twenty-three years. By his own admission, the boastful minor league ballplayer learned a valuable lesson in humility.
Pride is an elevated view of and a preoccupation with self. Pride is a fault we despise in others yet freely excuse and even justify in ourselves. Many theologians believe that pride, not drunkenness, adultery, or murder, is the deadliest of all sins, for it was pride that led to Lucifer’s rebellion «I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. », (Isaiah 14:14) and the first couple’s attempt at usurping God’s authority in the Garden of Eden «for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. », (Genesis 3:5). Many other sins originate from pride.
God’s warning that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall «Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall. », (Proverbs 16:18) is exemplified repeatedly in the pages of Scripture. One particularly remarkable incident, the account of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar, commences with his boasting, progresses with his downfall, and concludes with his admission. After being warned of his prideful nature by the prophet Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar stood on the rooftop of his palace and praised himself, declaring, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” «The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? », (Daniel 4:30, ESV). Immediately, God judged his pride, and for the next seven years, the once grandiose monarch crawled about on all fours like a wild beast while grazing on the palace lawn. From regal to rags and from banquet table to mouthfuls of fodder, King Nebuchadnezzar completed a seven-year lesson on the perils of pride and the merits of humility.
So, how does one conquer the serious sin of pride? First, we must recognize that pride, like harmful narcotics, is addictive and harmful to our well-being. The more we indulge pride, the tighter its hold becomes. Pride is a repugnant garment that is not easily discarded, and it is deceptive: those who believe they have already attained humility are likely mistaken. D. L. Moody used to pray, “Lord, make me humble, but don’t let me know it.”
Once we acknowledge that pride has a presence in our lives, we acknowledge this sin to our Savior as we would any other sin «If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. », (1 John 1:9). Once we have confessed the sin of pride, the Holy Spirit can begin correcting our faults and shaping us into the likeness of Jesus CChrist. We may take comfort, knowing that when God initiates a good work in us, He will bring it to completion «being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: », (Philippians 1:6).
Just as the minor league baseball player learned a lesson in humility after boasting to Hank Aaron, we will grasp the folly and foolishness of pride by comparing and contrasting ourselves to our Creator. Even the Henry Fords, Thomas Edisons, and Elon Musks of the world could not rightfully claim they helped lay the foundation of the earth and mark off its dimensions (see Job 38:4-5). Only God can make that assertion. Our greatest achievements are as trivial as anthills in the shadow of God’s incomprehensible creation.
To conquer pride, we must recall, as the psalmist did, our state before Christ’s salvation: “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” (Psalm 40:2). We must grasp grace: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10). We must acknowledge that all we possess is a gift from God: “Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as
Though you did not? “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”, (1 Corinthians 4:7).
And to overcome pride, we must praise the Lord. Covered in dew and reeking with seven years’ worth of filth, a humble King Nebuchadnezzar declared, “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’ At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:34-37;ESV).
Pride is to our detriment. Humility is for our greater good. Perhaps a final component of overcoming pride is a sincere, heartfelt desire for humility. When we truly understand the perils of pride, we will flee from it. When we realize the immense blessings of humility, we will long for it.
