Pride is such a subtle sin.
It’s opposite, humility, is impossible to fully master, for just when we believe we are humble, pride sneaks in and conquers us again. Of course, the underlying thought of pride is “I am better than you”. It carries with it a certain kind of prejudice. This prejudice judges by appearance, financial status, race, education, speech, faith, political affiliation, and more.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day looked down on Jews who did not follow their traditions. They had a special disdain for Gentiles because they were not Jews. Even Jesus, the Son of God, did not measure up to their standards.
Do we do the same today?
As believers in Christ, we must practice discernment and not simply accept every new thought that comes along. We need to examine the Scriptures and hold every teaching to the light of God’s truth.
But no Christian and no church should ever think that they are the only ones that understands and interprets all Scripture accurately. Christians need to guard their hearts against the arrogance that often comes with knowledge. Rather than humbling us, the more we know, the more we are in danger thinking that we know it all and that we are right.
The answer is love.
I Corinthians 8:2-3 says, “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.”
Love humbles itself in the sight of God and does not think more highly of itself than it ought to think. A person controlled by the love of God allows for the possibility that they don’t know everything and that they can learn from other people.
I Corinthians 13:2 says, “And though I…understand all mysteries and all knowledge, but have not love, I am nothing.”
Perhaps the best way to guard against the subtlety of arrogance is to focus first on love.
Selah~
