PRIDE

     Pride is defined as, "Unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority, whether as to talents, wealth, beauty, accomplishments, rank, office, or other distinction, with correspondingly contemptuous feeling toward others; inordinate self-esteem." -- Standard Dictionary. Its various manifestations are called by different names, as arrogance, haughtiness, conceit, self-conceit, vainglory, vanity, and egotism; but all these spring from the one root -- sin.

     Pride is a sly, deceitful element, and its presence is not easily detected, especially by the person whose breast it infests. Like the hypocrite, it will cover itself with a robe of self-righteousness and lull the soul to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. With great pretensions of humility it will attempt to hide its deformities, and with an air of indifference it will seek for the praise and applause of men.

     The Wise Man says that "pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." It caused the fall of the angels of heaven, and is the treacherous thing which has ruined, not only single individuals, but has also made shipwreck of churches and destroyed nations. When men shall vaunt themselves and say, "Peace and safety," then "sudden destruction" shall overtake them. In his description of his trip through hell, Dante represents one of the lost souls as rising from the infernal tomb and haughtily asking him from what family he came. This is a good illustration of the despicable character of pride, which still glories amid despair, and boasts of honors which vanish as a bubble on the wave.

     While such extreme manifestations of pride are not consistent with saving grace, yet the root -- sin, whose nature is still the same, remains in the justified soul to haunt and tantalize by its unholy movements. As is the case with other forms of sin, it is a difficult matter to draw the exact line at which the movings of pride cease to be simply the promptings of uncleanness within and advance to actual sin. But let it be remembered that when the element of pride is willfully yielded to, at that moment actual sin is committed. Hence, pride can exist in the saved heart only as a principle which sends forth its unholy suggestions. When this principle is fostered and obeyed, sin is committed and grace departs.

     Like a giant octopus, pride has many arms, diverse from one another, but all springing from the one unholy head.

     1. Over-confidence in one's own opinions and manner of doing things is a sign of pride. The person in whose heart this tendency lodges finds it hard to view his own labors with modesty, and to esteem others better than himself. It is hard for him to receive instruction, especially on subjects which he has already "mastered." Quite often, in order to humble such persons and thus keep them out of hell, God is forced to cause all their plans to fail and to "bring to naught the wisdom of the wise." That person who is over-confident, and hence conceited as to his abilities and knowledge, is more apt than others to be indiscreet in his ways and conversation as well as in his statements of doctrine.

     2. A tendency to refuse to listen and give proper weight to the opinions of others is a sign of remaining pride. Some extremists are inclined to think that it is wrong and a sign of a bad heart to submit their doctrines and teachings to the judgment of others, but such thoughts are not agreeable with the actions of Paul, for, after he had been preaching for a number of years he went up to Jerusalem, before the council of the other apostles, that they might pass judgment on his doctrines and manner of work, "lest he should run in vain." The only possible method to argue a question with an opponent and keep the sweetness of Christ withal is to always give due credit to his arguments and concede all you can. If you can begin by conceding that he is right in some particulars, you have, in a manner, disarmed him, and from very courtesy he must do the same by you, and thus quite often you have gained the battle without fighting. To be sure this plan will not always succeed, for there are many "unreasonable men."

     If you will not see the good in your opponent" arguments, no matter how insignificant that good may be, you are in danger. If you fear to give your opponent every advantage consistent with the least degree of truth, you either have a weak cause to support or you are not properly qualified to argue a right one. If you desire to beat him at every turn for the sake of beating or that you may secretly glory in his defeat, you need to be delivered. (Note. -- These points apply in arguing with reasonable men who are open to conviction, but shun the "leaven" doctrines -- of modern heresies as you would the plague. Pass by, have no companionship "with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.")

     3. Another manifestation of pride is contention. The Bible says, "Only by pride cometh contention" Contention is tenacity in holding to one's own point and just as tenaciously opposing the opinions of the other party. Sometimes this tendency is manifested when there is nothing to be gained. And even if great issues are at stake it is a mistake to lose or even dull your grace by being unduly contentious. Even if you are right in the stand you take, your excitableness will prove to your opponent that you are wrong. It is a tendency of unsanctified human nature that the more closely they are cornered and the more thoroughly they are convinced against their wills, the louder they will declare their doctrines and shout the victory. By this very shouting they are liable to discomfit or at least disgust and thus silence their adversaries. When this is done they run off and boast of their success in silencing an adversary. Be careful, my brother, or by your very spirit you will give your opponent reason to think that you belong to that unreasonable class. Your arguments may be never so good, but your contentious, excitable spirit overthrows all the good you might otherwise do. A humble spirit speaks much louder than fine spun arguments.

     4. Another manifestation of pride is unwillingness to take reproof. A positive refusal to take reproof is inconsistent with grace. "He that hateth reproof is brutish." It must be confessed that it is rather humbling to personal pride to be sharply reproved by some person who is in every way inferior to the one he reproves. But grace will enable one, in spite of wounded tendencies to pride, to take the reproof even under those circumstances.

     Some are constantly asking their brethren to reprove them if anything is wrong in their lives; but every one knows that the reproof, no matter how much it is deserved nor how gently it is given, will not be received as whole-heartedly as it should be. Even if you do imagine that your life is so immaculate that no man can see anything in you to reprove, if you cannot take reproof gracefully, do not be constantly inviting it; and if you do invite it, and it comes, thank yourself and pass on. We once knew a man who often asked the brethren to point out his failures, but as sure as such a thing was done he would sulk around for days, then suddenly appear again and testify to being saved and sanctified. What do you think of his experience?

     5. Flinging back or resenting reproof or correction is a sign of pride. It is possible to conceive of a person who, through zeal for the truth and a misunderstanding of the circumstances, will reprove one unjustly and even more severely than is mete and yet keep a clean heart; but it is not possible for the person who is thus wrongfully reproved to resent or retaliate and be clean. Resentment and retaliation are always carnal.

     Opposition to reproof has reached such a stage that this ancient but wholesome means of grace has almost gone into oblivion. Even among professed holiness people it is a rare thing, and when it is given it is quite generally resented in one way or another. Such a condition of affairs can only result from the continued indwelling of that principle of pride and conceit which dislikes to be humbled, and which, in order to prove its own innocency, or to in a measure palliate its sinfulness, will resent reproof by attempting to show that the instrument which God uses in pointing out its failures is wrong, too. Though you may succeed in proving all others wrong, yet this fact does not wash away one taint of the inherent pollution of your soul. It only deepens and strengthens the vile stain.

     6. Vaunting one's self and trying to reach to or beyond the measure of others is a sign of remaining pride. Jesus told us that if we would be great we must be servants of all. The psalmist says, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." Humility does not fear to be set aside or to be trampled under foot, for it realizes its innocency and knows that some time, over there if not here, it will be vindicated. On the other hand, pride would consume much breath in explaining and establishing its innocency and "lofty character." Not that it is always wrong to explain but where explanations are indited by love of self and not by love of God it would be better to remain misunderstood. We are only just so great, and there are greater in the world. Let others have their place. If we occupy ours well, we shall not lose our reward.

     7. Pride, as a principle, manifests its presence by an inward tendency or leaning toward those things or in favor of those indulgences which, if obeyed, will gratify a feeling of self-satisfaction, or cause one to seem great in his own eyes or receive the praise of those who are wont to flatter. This tendency is seen in an inward clinging to or reaching out after gaudy dress, fine houses or furniture, or pompous appearances on any line. Yielding is sin, but the tendency exists with grace.

     These are a few, and only a few, of the multitudinous manifestations of the treacherous element of pride. If one thing, even the least inclination, remains in your heart, do not be content till it is cast hence. For, be assured, that if this vile but showy tendency gets the upper hand of your grace and you become "lifted up with pride," you cannot escape the inevitable result and will "fall into the condemnation of the devil."