That bane called pride

I have trouble with a prideful spirit more often than i would like to admit (see, like there. i wouldn't want to admit out of pride how often i have problems with a prideful spirit). Little things can trigger it.
Like getting into an argument and after 2 minutes of heated discussion i realize that i'm probably wrong but i keep on going just because i don't want to admit i'm wrong.
Or like doing something well and then watching someone else doing the same thing, only not as well. And I find myself thinking "oh Gabe, you really outdid yourself. Good job. Now look at the poor blighters try to recreate your moment of awesomeness...". Yeah... it can get that bad really quickly if i don't stop myself.

Pro 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

But even if i don't stop myself, someone will come along that shows me that i'm not the hot stuff i believed myself to be.

I may try to put forth a show of knowledge. But there's always someone smarter.
I might become proud after singing a hard line of music better than anyone else on the row. But there's always someone who has a sweeter, better, clearer voice than I.
I may be puffed up from a athletic feat. But there's always someone a little stronger, faster, quicker, etc

Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

It's like in the old west. There's always someone faster on the draw.

But in my human nature, I can always think of an excuse or reason as to why what i did was better. Even if someone does something better, i can think of an excuse as to why what i did really deserves more credit. Why do i do that? Where does it come from?

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Mar 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

So, pride is of the world, and is in the same sentence as murder, blasphemy, and adultery. In addition to that, in Proverbs 6 it says that a proud look is an abomination to the Lord.

Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
(to show people who had the fear of the Lord: Act 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. )
So, has as (I hope) a child of God, i should hate pride. But oh, even though i hate it... i still have it.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Pride obviously doesn't come from the new man, but from that nastiness which is human.

Jer 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Something today caused pride to raise its poisonous, beautiful face. But before i had gone very far down the road with it... a thought came to my mind.
Christ had to come to this earth and die for sin. Sins like the one i was committing then by being proud.
My having a spirit of vain, proudful, conceitedness helped drive the nails, and made the cup fuller.

1Ti 1:15

I will tell you that it is impossible to remain proudful with thoughts like that burdening your mind.

This may seem to end on a dark note, but it isn't meant to. From 1Ti 1:15 one can get to Eph 2:4-8 and get on shouting ground real fast (that "but God" in verse 4 is one of the most beautiful things ever.)

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.



Gabe


I heard a story, of one who came to save me
Long time ago, he died that i might live on
Why he would love, one such as low as i am
Only he knows.
I want to serve him.
I want to praise him.
He died to save me, that i might live with him on,
And on.