A subject that we as Christians don’t like to talk about a lot has been on my heart and deep in my spirit, and that’s PRIDE in the Body of Christ. Exactly what is pride? There are many descriptions of it. Some are “unreasonable conceit”, “haughty behavior”, and “to indulge and boast in oneself”. God despises pride.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:13, NIV).
Have you ever heard another believer boast? The word clearly tells us how to do it. But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18, NIV). During times with the Lord, my prayer on a consistent basis is “Lord, don’t let this ugly thing creep up in my heart and life.”
Sometimes as Christians it can be there and we don’t even realize it. We have to come to the place where we don’t mind saying and living, “I’m nothing Lord, it’s all about you. I humble myself and I want more of you.” In fact, it’s what you have to remember to say and live everyday of your life if you’re doing it God’s way. Of course we know who we are in the Lord, our confidence lies in Him, we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength, but everyday still FLESH has to die! I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, NIV).
While writing this, I thought about how the word “selfish” is associated with pride. What’s wrong with us putting someone else first? What’s wrong with esteeming another brother or sister in the Body higher than ourselves? If we do that, is it saying that we are less than they are? No, it’s not. It is saying that we are showing and displaying the greatest gift of all LOVE, which leads to UNITY through HUMILITY. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Scripture of the Day: "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," - Philippians 2:1-3
Artis L. Smith
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