Strong spirits: proud? Or humble?
In our world, it may look like bad pride wins. But don't be fooled!
There is good pride - because of an accomplishment, your children doing well, completing a task. And there is bad pride - thinking you are better, judging and snubbing others, conceit and arrogance.
Bad pride is hurtful, harmful, and keeps us from loving and from being the people God intends us to be. Its opposite is humility - putting others first, choosing to serve, selflessness.
In our world, bad pride is much in evidence and much in vogue. For God and those who choose to follow him, humility is the call.
Jesus is our model: "...he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, and being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by being obedient to death- even death on a cross!" (Phillipians 2:7,8)
In our world, it may look like bad pride wins. But don't be fooled! "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5). God will have the final word. The humble will be lifted up, and the proud will fall. Which will we choose?
Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.
