Wars of Pride and Humility

Augustine of Hippo reportedly said, “Unless humility precede, accompany, and follow up the good we accomplish, unless we keep our eyes fixed on it, pride will snatch everything right out of our hands.”

Pride says, “I have made it. Its mine to enjoy. I will live larger and blessed wherever and however I please. Whereas humility says, “I have nothing that was not given to me by God. I am on this earth for a very short time and after that, eternity. When I die I can take nothing with me. Therefore, I am a life tenant of God’s resources and will use them to serve and please God by helping others.”

The Bible tells us, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

President-elect Trump himself might have been a very prideful man. Americans looked at him and saw their own dreams of pride, opulence and success. His prideful character was publicly mocked by the President Obama in 2011, during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as depicted in the image above.

He became a poster boy of the modern materialistic age but those who closely know him say he has a softer side. Stories of him helping others in need have surfaced here and here which proves the Lord might have changed his heart. He might have realized that greatness comes only from serving others and he wanted to help people in more difficult circumstances.

Many Christian leaders have counselled him and prayed with him. One of these is James Robinson who says Trump and Pence expressed an attitude of humility and gratitude of prayer.  Here is James Robinson describing had how amazed he’s been at Trump’s kindness and openness to hear his heart:

In 55 years of ministry I have never been received more graciously, with such sincere interest and deep appreciation. I pray the world sees the humility and eagerness to discover what is best for everyone that I’ve observed the past seven months.

Mr. Trump’s acceptance speech late last night…. flowed with humility and a deep sense of gratitude, along with a sincere desire to build necessary unity in our nation. The way he specifically complimented individuals and reached out to Sec. Clinton and all of America in what was for him a joyous occasion spoke volumes. That’s the Donald Trump that I, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Huckabee and others have come to know very well.

When I talked to Mr. Trump this morning, he was thrilled and overflowing with gratitude for the evangelical support.  I said, “I just want to help. I want to see you surrounded with wisdom and prayer.” He said, “James, surround me with it! Surround me! And don’t ever let me forget it.” I heard in those moments, in that tone and spirit, the graciousness, humility and the desire to hear wise counsel and to be surrounded by those best qualified to serve the people and the future of freedom I’ve been listening to for months.

We’ve all seen that pride is not a just a private matter. It’s been part of the political spectrum in the U.S elections. Bitter words and confusion were the hallmarks of politics both from politicians and the people.

Pride is what is causing riots right now, instead of humbly accepting the choice of the majority, the real racism, (that has been characterized on Trump), violence, hate and bigotry of the opposition is finally coming out of the closet.

Pride causes strife led and broken homes, wars and bloodshed among nations, envy and jealousies, elitism, character assassinations, theft, and even murder.

Ironically, when the President was rightly mocking Trump about his pride, not too long after that, to be precise about 3 years in his second term, he was doing the very same thing, and on a far larger prideful scale–celebrating a gay marriage Supreme Court ruling with a rainbow colored White House; something the Lord calls an abomination.

The truth is, there is nothing so natural to man, nothing so insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing so difficult and dangerous as pride.  The Tree of the good of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden are God’s revelation of how this spirit of pride entered the human race.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable and pleasant) for food (Lust of the flesh) and that it was delightful to look at, (Lust of the eyes) and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise (Pride of life).  Genesis 3:1-7) Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4).

In other words, there won’t be any consequences for your actions. “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

Just like Adam and Eve violated God’s will and acted independently of Him, it’s still the same temptation of the whole human race—to direct our own destiny and be our own god which is the theory of the New Age movement humanists and the so called global elites who want the New World Order, actually it’s a (new world disorder).

This is Satan’s oldest trick instituted when he first approached Eve. He questioned the integrity of God’s command and appealed to her selfish desire to be like God. There is something selfish in each one of us to want to believe that we can know about things better than God—it is called the pride of life. Author C. S. Lewis said:

What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could “be like gods”—could set up on their own as if they had created themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

Andrew Murray has written a good book on the subject of humility and pride. Readers who are interested to study this book in greater detail are warmly commended to obtain it from here. He writes,

When the Old Serpent, he who had been cast out from heaven for his pride, whose whole nature as devil was pride, spoke his words of temptation into the ear of Eve, these words carried with them the very poison of hell. And when she listened and yielded her desire and her will to the prospect of being as God, knowing good and evil, the poison entered into her soul, blood and life, destroying forever that blessed humility and dependence upon God which would have been our everlasting happiness.

Her life and the life of the race that sprang from her became corrupted to its very root with that most terrible of all sins and all curses, the poison of Satan’s own pride…. It is pride that made redemption needful. It is from our pride we need above everything to be redeemed. And our insight into the need of redemption will largely depend upon our knowledge of the terrible nature of the power that has entered our being.

Down at the bottom, the pride of life is the problem everywhere. The prophet Ezekiel put it this way: “Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom; pride, overabundance of food, (self-indulgence, carnality selfishness a me, myself, and I attitude) prosperous ease, and idleness (which is laziness) were hers and her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49 AMP)

It was the lack of concern for the poor that produced homosexuality and adultery. We cannot strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy if we are selfish, self-indulgent, and indifferent to others.

Pride, or the loss of humility, is the root of every sin. Humility is bringing all that you are under the control of Jesus Christ. It is becoming God dependent. This kind of thinking is contrary to the world’s mindset, which promotes independence and self at the centre of everything.

Jonathan Edwards said, “Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.” And nothing is more effective in developing humility like failure.

In fact humility and character development is cultivated in the classroom of humiliation and failure. My pride has been tested through failure and disappointments. God has used failure and disappointments to reveal my need for total dependence upon Him and submit to His Lordship in every area of my life. We are commanded to humble ourselves, to  be as counted nothing and to submit to God. (See 1 Peter 5:6-7)

I am reminded of German theologian and pastor, Helmut Thielicke, who amid the ruins of a defeated Germany during World 2 warned his listeners that:

The worship of success is generally the form of idol worship the devil cultivates most assiduously…Success is the greatest narcotic of all.” Casting down the cross of Christ! Intoxicated with success! Substituting the temporary for the permanent!

Thus was the church and the entire country crushed, crushed on the rock called God “who is not mocked.” Destroyed for being blinded by the pride of nationalism, instead of being humbled by its great need for repentance. The church stood with pride, but it would not bow in humility.

We need to reiterate that the problems of our time are not economical or political or social issues as important as these may be. The central issues of our time are moral and spiritual in nature, and our calling as a church is to declare Christ’s forgiveness, hope, and transforming power to a world that does not know or follow Him.

One hundred years ago, one of the British preachers said, “Every time you have an election, you throw one lot of sinners out, and you vote another lot of sinners in!” Our human governments are not godly and our leaders are not godly men! We might have some born-again Christians in politics, but our governments, our nations, and laws, everywhere are controlled by ungodly men and women!

So the kingdoms of this world and the political systems we live under today are not the end! Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end. God is going to bring His Kingdom on earth. The devil will be in chains! Until that happens, what must we do? We need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that before the end of this age, the gospel of the kingdom must be preached then shall the end come.

Therefore, American Christians and others around the world, let us repent, humble ourselves and pray for our families, churches, and a true Holy Spirit inspired revival and a Great spiritual Awakening in our nations.

Pray for our newly elected leaders whether you agree with them or not, as God is the One Who appoints leaders, which is why we are exhorted to pray and make intercessions for all kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. (1Timothy 2:1-2)

We also need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, (Psalm 122:6) and the current events in the Middle East. The Bible commands us to pray for all men including the Arab nations and Muslims that they may repent and come to saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Battle has just begun! The Lord might have just given us another opportunity to share the gospel and make disciples according to the command He gives in Matthew 28:19 “Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Source of Images: WND & Public Domain