DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH PRIDE?
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that so with discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19
"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." Proverbs 16:5
"An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin." Proverbs 21:4
Had you asked me this question five years ago, I would have honestly told you that I didn't really struggle with pride. Funny huh? Over the last few years God has been chipping away at my heart and forcing me to acknowledge my pride. Being in prison over a year now has opened my eyes to even more pride in my life.
Why do I judge others and find them lacking? Because I consider myself to be better than them which is pride. I find myself being critical of those around me, and God highlights my pride. How can I reach others when I consider myself better than them? Is my pride hurting others? I was reading a Christian novel the other day, and God touched my heart as I read the following.
Conversation between Azar (Hadassah) and Prometheus
He rubbed the tears from his face. "That sounds so easy," he said in frustration. "You say God won't abandon me, and yet I feel abandoned. Do you know there are Christians here in Ephesus who will have as little to do with me as possible because they know what I was? Some Nicolaitans go to the Artemission several times a week and use the temple prostitutes. Yet they're not treated the way I am."
She was much aggrieved. "What they do is sin, Prometheus."
"They're with women."
"And you think that makes a difference?"
"One man made a point of telling me it's written in the Scriptures that God considers homosexuality an abomination. That I should be stoned to death."
"The Mosaic law considered adultery and fornication abominations deserving of death, too. God despises harlotry of any kind, body or spirit." She thought of Julia in the upper bedchamber, dying slowly of a disease she contracted by practicing a life of sin. She thought of her worshipping other gods.Wherein was the greatest sin?
"I see the way some of them look at me," he said. "They don't look at those men that way. Most Christians think I'm beneath contempt, beyond redemption. And after today, I think they may be right."
"No, Prometheus. You're listening to the wrong voice."
He sat up slowly and leaned back. "Maybe I am and maybe I'm not. I don't know anymore. All I do know is sometimes I get lonely, Lady Azar, so lonely I crave the life I had with Primus."
She wanted to weep. "I get lonely, too, Prometheus."
"But you can always go to God, and he hears you."
"He hears you, too," she said tearfully, full of sorrow at what others were doing to him in the name of the Lord. "Don't measure God by man. He loves you. He died for you."
"Then why does he put me into temptation over and over again? I thought it was all over, but it's not. I can't close my mind off to the memories no matter how hard I try. Some things are always there to remind me. I find myself thinking my life was a lot less complicated when I wasn't a Christian."
"The Lord doesn't tempt you. Satan does. He waits for the opportune time and knows exactly where you're most vulnerable. For you, it's the physical pleasures you experienced while practicing homosexuality. For those who persecute you, it's pride. They think they're better than you or their sin is less important. God doesn't think as men think, Prometheus."
She took his hands. "It says in Proverbs other are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. How many of those sins do they commit who put stumbling blocks before you in your walk with the Lord? Don't look to man for understanding or to yourself for what you need. God sees your pain and your struggle, and God will give you the strength to overcome it. God alone can do it."
Prometheus let out his breath slowly and nodded. "I hear the Lord speak to me through you," he said, greatly relieved. He lifted his head and smiled sadly. "You remind me of someone I once knew. She was one of the reasons I almost didn't come back to this house." His expression softened. "And, in a strange way, she was part of the reason I did."
The Lord moved her heart. Prometheus had dropped his mask of happiness and revealed the struggle within himself. Could she do less?
She withdrew her hands from his. "Prometheus," she said softly and lifted her veils.
He stared at her scars in revulsion and pity, and then his expression changed.
"O God, God!" he whispered hoarsely, recognizing her. He fell to his knees and put his arms around her hips, his head in her lap. "You can't know how many times I've longed to speak with you again! You saw how I lived. You knew what I was. And still you loved me enough to share the Good News with me."
She stroked Prometheus' dark hair as though he were still a child. "God has always loved you, Prometheus. It was no accident we met. I never knew if the seeds I planted would take root in you until I saw you again a few weeks ago. Oh, what joy it was to know you'd accepted Jesus into your heart, too."
Wow! This short excerpt broke my heart and brought me to my knees. What if this young man was talking about me? Pride is a sin that I will struggle with until I meet my Savior, but I pray God continues to break my heart over my pride so others see Christ in me.
Rivers, Francine. An Echo In the Wind. CarolStream, IL. Tyndale House Publishers. 2002.
"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." Proverbs 16:5
"An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin." Proverbs 21:4
Had you asked me this question five years ago, I would have honestly told you that I didn't really struggle with pride. Funny huh? Over the last few years God has been chipping away at my heart and forcing me to acknowledge my pride. Being in prison over a year now has opened my eyes to even more pride in my life.
Why do I judge others and find them lacking? Because I consider myself to be better than them which is pride. I find myself being critical of those around me, and God highlights my pride. How can I reach others when I consider myself better than them? Is my pride hurting others? I was reading a Christian novel the other day, and God touched my heart as I read the following.
Conversation between Azar (Hadassah) and Prometheus
He rubbed the tears from his face. "That sounds so easy," he said in frustration. "You say God won't abandon me, and yet I feel abandoned. Do you know there are Christians here in Ephesus who will have as little to do with me as possible because they know what I was? Some Nicolaitans go to the Artemission several times a week and use the temple prostitutes. Yet they're not treated the way I am."
She was much aggrieved. "What they do is sin, Prometheus."
"They're with women."
"And you think that makes a difference?"
"One man made a point of telling me it's written in the Scriptures that God considers homosexuality an abomination. That I should be stoned to death."
"The Mosaic law considered adultery and fornication abominations deserving of death, too. God despises harlotry of any kind, body or spirit." She thought of Julia in the upper bedchamber, dying slowly of a disease she contracted by practicing a life of sin. She thought of her worshipping other gods.Wherein was the greatest sin?
"I see the way some of them look at me," he said. "They don't look at those men that way. Most Christians think I'm beneath contempt, beyond redemption. And after today, I think they may be right."
"No, Prometheus. You're listening to the wrong voice."
He sat up slowly and leaned back. "Maybe I am and maybe I'm not. I don't know anymore. All I do know is sometimes I get lonely, Lady Azar, so lonely I crave the life I had with Primus."
She wanted to weep. "I get lonely, too, Prometheus."
"But you can always go to God, and he hears you."
"He hears you, too," she said tearfully, full of sorrow at what others were doing to him in the name of the Lord. "Don't measure God by man. He loves you. He died for you."
"Then why does he put me into temptation over and over again? I thought it was all over, but it's not. I can't close my mind off to the memories no matter how hard I try. Some things are always there to remind me. I find myself thinking my life was a lot less complicated when I wasn't a Christian."
"The Lord doesn't tempt you. Satan does. He waits for the opportune time and knows exactly where you're most vulnerable. For you, it's the physical pleasures you experienced while practicing homosexuality. For those who persecute you, it's pride. They think they're better than you or their sin is less important. God doesn't think as men think, Prometheus."
She took his hands. "It says in Proverbs other are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. How many of those sins do they commit who put stumbling blocks before you in your walk with the Lord? Don't look to man for understanding or to yourself for what you need. God sees your pain and your struggle, and God will give you the strength to overcome it. God alone can do it."
Prometheus let out his breath slowly and nodded. "I hear the Lord speak to me through you," he said, greatly relieved. He lifted his head and smiled sadly. "You remind me of someone I once knew. She was one of the reasons I almost didn't come back to this house." His expression softened. "And, in a strange way, she was part of the reason I did."
The Lord moved her heart. Prometheus had dropped his mask of happiness and revealed the struggle within himself. Could she do less?
She withdrew her hands from his. "Prometheus," she said softly and lifted her veils.
He stared at her scars in revulsion and pity, and then his expression changed.
"O God, God!" he whispered hoarsely, recognizing her. He fell to his knees and put his arms around her hips, his head in her lap. "You can't know how many times I've longed to speak with you again! You saw how I lived. You knew what I was. And still you loved me enough to share the Good News with me."
She stroked Prometheus' dark hair as though he were still a child. "God has always loved you, Prometheus. It was no accident we met. I never knew if the seeds I planted would take root in you until I saw you again a few weeks ago. Oh, what joy it was to know you'd accepted Jesus into your heart, too."
Wow! This short excerpt broke my heart and brought me to my knees. What if this young man was talking about me? Pride is a sin that I will struggle with until I meet my Savior, but I pray God continues to break my heart over my pride so others see Christ in me.
Rivers, Francine. An Echo In the Wind. CarolStream, IL. Tyndale House Publishers. 2002.
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