PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT SYNDROME: Another way a person demonstrates pride is by considering the good things in his or her life a product of personal achievement rather than the result of divine providence. In Jn.3:27-30, John the Baptist said:
“… a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John made this statement when some of his disciples came and told him that the Lord was baptizing on the other side of the Jordan. As a matter of fact, it was even the disciples of Jesus Christ that were doing the baptizing. John did not go to complain to God that he was the one with the mandate to baptize and question the fact that Jesus Christ was also doing the same thing. He simply acknowledged the fact that whatever a person gets comes from above. He acknowledged also that the grace to even conduct the baptism as he was doing was given from above. He then concluded by saying that the Lord must increase while he must decrease. This should be the attitude of every believer. This is why the Lord described him as a shining and burning light! Until the ‘I’ in a person decreases and Christ increases, such a person still has an issue with pride.
SEEKING FIRST TO RECEIVE BEFORE GIVING HONOUR: Another way a person demonstrates pride is by always waiting to receive greeting from others and consciously not making the move to greet first. As simple as this may look, it is a very serious issue that tells you that you believe others should answer to you and that you are not obligated to answer to any. Some even do this with the pretentious excuse that they are older than the person and as such should be greeted first. While this may apply by natural calculations, it is not an offence for an older person to greet a younger one first. Anyone who holds on strongly to this belief system will have issues at work where the boss is a younger person in age. You know that if you keep falling out with your boss all the time, you will be the worse for it. In fact, with a mindset like this, you are not likely to add any appreciable value to your organization and you will be edged out at the slightest opportunity without being missed. In Prov.16:18, we read:
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Anyone with this kind of heart disposition should understand that it does not take anything from you to greet first whether the person you greet is older or younger than you. Like we are told from our quoted text here, pride precedes a fall so if you do not want to fall, avoid it.
MAKING AN IDOL OF ONE’S OPINION: Another way a person can demonstrate pride is by making an idol of their opinion. This is expressed in always desiring to win in arguments. While persistence in whatever good ideals you hold unto is a virtue, holding a view in extremity for egocentric reasons would only fit in with our description of pride. I have heard some Christian men make statements to the effect that they cannot give up their ego for anything and I fear for them because the first demand of discipleship is ego slaying. Some people even talk about massaging the ego of others. What does ego mean? Ego simply means self. I consider this in direct conflict with the word of God that places a demand of self-denial on anyone who wants to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. We should be careful to not allow the ways of the world form our thinking pattern. The bible tells us in Romans 12:2 to renew our minds. That text of Scripture reads:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
It takes mind renewal to be able to decipher the will of God as the natural man can neither receive nor experience the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolishness to him. It is better to give up one’s ego so as to be able to embrace the mindset of God than to be destroyed along with the rest of the world. The truth is that we are not always right because of the limitations of the human nature, but God is all wise and is always right. It is better to buy into His ideals than to have and hold on to our own limited ones which may be wrong. Some people go to the extreme of claiming that their ego is all they have left. In that case, it is best you drop it and receive the Lord Jesus Christ because you are really nothing in comparison to the Lord! He is the king of kings and Lord of lords; he is the author of Life. Finally, making an idol of one’s opinion can deny the person so doing the advantage of a sound advice that would have taken him or her to the next level in life.
UNCONTROLLABLE FITS OF RAGE: Another way pride is demonstrated is through the expression of uncontrollable fits of anger and rage. The reason such a person demonstrates this kind of anger is that things do not go his or her way. This is the devil’s behaviour. In Rev.12:7-12, we read:
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”
The devil wanted the throne of God but could not get it and when he was defeated, and could not have his way, he expressed his sentiments in an uncontrollable fit of rage which brought about a devastation of this world. Today, many destinies which would otherwise have grown to become glorious ones have been truncated by this vice. I once read of a famous celebrity who was told as a young person that he could become a man of global relevance through his sport, but would not get far if he did not deal with his temper. Thank God he heeded this advice and emerged a world renowned sport’s man.
THE SECRET ANGER IN THE HEART WHEN ONE IS NOT ACKNOWLEGED: This is a most common symptom of pride that cuts across every group of people. In fact this is hidden and some people are very good actors in covering this type. Some other people are too crude to hide this feeling. Either way, it is the same thing before God. Anyone who has this kind of problem will have difficulty serving as they would not be able to handle the flexibility of changing positions for the accomplishment of responsibilities. By this, I mean once they receive a position from which to influence or lead, they cannot step down to a lower one for the general good so as to get things done in a corporate environment like a Church, place of work or a club. This is the attitude demonstrated by the Pharisees that made the Lord say that except our righteousness exceed theirs; we shall not enter the kingdom. Anyone caught in this trap will be offended if his name or her name is not announced in connection with a gift they give in Church. Another instance of this is common among ministers who would; as a matter of personal policy, never attend a program except they are called to minister there. I am not referring to a case where the said minister by virtue of his schedule cannot afford the time to attend such programs. I am talking about a situation when this minister is not too busy to attend and the program is relevant to him or her and it is conducted in his or her community of ministry.
I recall the uncontrollable fit of rage demonstrated to me by a fellow minister who was part of one of the programs we organized some time in 2003 as a result of an oversight to acknowledge his presence at the service. I was stunned and wondered where all that feeling of self-importance came from. Today, he is no more in the ministry. People with this kind of attitude never last in ministry because clearly, their conception of ministry is grossly impaired.
Concerning this kind of attitude, Jesus has this to say:
“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi” Mt.23:5-7
“When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”. Lk.14:8-11
From this second text of Scripture, we see that the attitude we are supposed to have is one of humility over and above self-importance as humility precedes honour. Apostle Peter in 1Pet.5:1-6 throws more light on this subject while exhorting the elders (Pastors) in his letter to them thus:
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
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