Virtue In Knowledge Publications

 
Recognizing Our Pride and Selfishness

    God tells us man's main problem and THE root of his sin, is that he is both Proud (Pr.16:18; 8:13; Is.2:9f) and Selfish (Rom.2:8; II Pet.3:3).

    Is 53:6 says, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way."

    We go our own way instead of God's way.  We want our will instead of God's will.

    If we don't believe, trust and obey God, it is because we are proud. If we, like Satan, exalt our will over the will of God (Is.14:12-14, Ezk.28:17), it is because we are proud.

    Paul said of his co-workers "For they ALL seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus." (Phil.2:21)  How much more do we seek after our own interests?

    Unless we identify this sin and its deceptiveness in our lives, we will never have victory over it.

    So, how can we identify this Pride and Selfishness in YOUR life and MINE?

    Remember, we are to follow Christ's example in every way and do NOTHING in selfishness, but with humility of mind, regarding others as MORE important than yourself. (Phil.2:3)

    Pride and Selfishness will evidence itself in some of the following ways:

    * When God exposes the sin in your life, especially thru somebody else, how do we respond?  If we get gloomy, depressed, angry or embarrassed, it shows us we have a HUGE Pride problem.  Why?  Because, we should be glad to see our sin.  Jesus hated lawlessness and loved righteousness (Heb.1:9) and because of that attitude was the most joyful person that EVER walked the earth.  If we truly hate lawlessness and the sin in our life, we will be glad when God exposes it so we can remove it from our life.

    For example, take a moment to think of sin like we think of physical dirt.  When someone tells you you have dirt on your face, do you get gloomy, depressed or angry?  NO, of course not.  We normally say "Thank you for pointing that out."  Why don't we respond that way when God shows us the dirt in our heart?

    When God shows you or me our sin, we should jump for joy that we can finally see our self the way God sees us. Would it be better to stand before God at the judgment day with our un-confessed, unrepentant, unrecognized sin?

    Shouldn't we long for God to show us EVERY day something in our life that displeases Him, so we can more closely be like Christ?  Why would we want to live in self deception like the Pharisees of old, that thought they were close to God, but were actually a million miles away?

    If we love the truth about our self, we will love and long for God to show us the dirt (sin) in our lives. (II Th.2:10)  If not, we will be just like the Pharisees.

    * Unwillingness to humble your self or be humbled in EVERY situation, like Christ did, so we can receive the grace (power of God) to overcome sin. (Jam.4:6; I Pet.5:5-6)

    If we are truly humble, with our face in the dirt, thinking we are only servants of the almighty God, deserving only Hell, then we can never fall, even when someone seeks to push us down by stepping on us.

    * Self sufficiency vs. Unceasing prayer and communication with God (I Th.5:16)  Proud people don't need God's help every moment of the day, only humble people do.

    Do we continually "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." (Heb.4:16)

    * No "ALWAYS giving thanks for ALL things" (Eph.5:20) and "rejoicing in the Lord always" (Phil.4:4) and No contentment "in whatever circumstances I am in" (Phil.4:11).

    Proud people grumble and complain.  Proud people are always unsatisfied and critical with what others do or say.  Nothing is ever good enough for them.

    Humble spirited people evidence a sweet spirit of thankfulness, contentment and gratitude for everyone and everything, because they know God causes ALL things to work together for good, to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom.8:28)

    In Romans 1:21 the apostle Paul points out that NOT "honoring God and giving thanks" are two key distinguishing marks of the unrighteous man.

    * No eager hearing and obeying God and a sincere hunger for knowing God and His Word. (Heb.5:11-13)

    The Proud man (or woman) doesn't value or spend much time in God's word or in being taught by others.  Why?  He doesn't need it. He is self sufficient and has everything he needs.  So, there is no reason why he should value it, treasure it and invest his time in it.

    A Humble person values tremendously God's word and therefore invests much time reading, studying and learning from God.  The humble man knows he has NO wisdom in himself and therefore actively seeks the wisdom of God (Ja.1:5; Pr.1:1-33).

    * No real trust and reliance upon God and His promises.

    The Proud don't really trust God, because they don't think they need to.  They don't trust God because the seed of God's word never gets implanted in their heart, but is choked out by; worries, riches and pleasures. (Luke 8:14).

    When God's word gets planted and rooted in our heart, it produces spiritual fruit (Gal.5:22-23) and a deep trust in God. (Rom.10:17)

    * No victory over discouragement, depression, worry, anxiety or fear.

    How are these related to Pride?  Discouragement and depression are caused by pride since a proud person does not really trust God and rely on His promises of:

    Love - John 17:23 - You "loved them as You loved Me."  Do we really believe that God the Father loves us as much as He loved His only Son, Jesus Christ?  John 15:9 - " Exactly as the Father loves Me, thus I love you."  Do we really believe that Jesus loves us with the exact same quality of love that the Father loves Him?

    Victory Over ALL Problems - Rom.8:37 - "But in ALL these things we OVERWHELMINGLY conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that nothing... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

    Care - I Pet.5:7 - "Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you."  Rom.8:28 - "For we know that God is causes ALL things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

    Provision - Mt.6:32-34 - "For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow..."

    In light of just these promises, how can a believer be discouraged, or depressed, or anxious or fearful?

    * Drawing attention to yourself (Heb.5:5) for the praise or glory of man (Jn.5:41).

    The Pharisees were very religious but proud. Jesus said "they do ALL their deeds to be noticed by men." (Mt.23:5)

    He then condemned them for drawing attention to themselves when they prayed, gave, fasted, dressed, eat, walked and talked (Mt.6:1-18; Mt.23:1-12).  They even wanted to be addressed with special titles to exalt themselves above the common man.   Do you actively or secretly seek to draw attention to yourself?

    Remember, a good servant in Bible times NEVER sought to be seen or recognized for their work.  A good servant does their job to the best of their ability without any fan fair or glory.  When they are finished with the task, they retreat back into obscurity awaiting their Masters next command.

    That's exactly how Christ lived His life. He NEVER sought the attention of others and would often tell those he healed not to tell anybody (Mt.8:4; 9:30; 12:16).  Show me any of the popular healers today that follow this example?

    * Demanding or even expecting others to serve you (Mt.20:28)

    Proud people expect to be served.  Humble people seek to instead serve others.

    * Angry with others (Mt.5:22)

    The proud get easily angry and upset with others. Jesus in the three years of His ministry, became angry only three times and was NEVER due to something pertaining to himself.  Jesus did not get upset when they called Him names or sought to discredit Him (Mt.12:32), unlike the Pharisees who were easily upset and jealous of what Jesus had, that they didn't have. (Lk.12:53; 20:20)  

    Instead of getting jealous and angry, the humble rejoice when someone is blessed more than they are.  Conversely, they don't get angry or bitter when others don't suffer as they do (Ja.1:2). The humble even rejoice when their enemies prosper more than they. (Mt.5:44-48)

    * Looking down on others with contempt (Lk.18:9)

    The humble NEVER make anyone feel small or insignificant, but instead lift up others above them self (Eph.5:29; Rom.14:19). The humble regard others as more important than them self (Ph.2:3)

    * Unwillingness to humble self and go to others first if someone has something against you to be reconciled to that person (Mt.5:23-24).

    Jesus said we are to humble our self and be the first to ask forgiveness to make things right with another person.

    * Unwillingness to forgive others for any offense (Mt.18:21-35) even if they don't ask for your forgiveness (Mk.11:25)

    The humble not only grant forgiveness when asked for it (Lk.17:3), but have a spirit of forgiveness (Mk.11:25).  The humble NEVER hold onto a grudge or bitterness, because they forgive others seventy times seven or endlessly (Mt.18:21-35).  The humble realize that they have been forgiven by Christ for their offenses a billion more times serious and often than anyone could do to them.

    * From I Cor. 13:4-7 - Christ like self sacrificing love evidences itself by:

       1.

          ALWAYS Patient with others
       2.

          ALWAYS Kind to others
       3.

          NEVER jealous for others
       4.

          NEVER brags, no drawing attention to yourself for anything
       5.

          NEVER arrogant and NEVER looks down on others in any way
       6.

          ALWAYS acts becomingly so as to not embarrass another in any way
       7.

          NEVER seeks it's own way in anything
       8.

          NEVER agitated to hurt another by word or action or even be angry with another
       9.

          NEVER keeps track of when someone hurts you
      10.

          NEVER rejoices when another suffers because of evil
      11.

          ALWAYS Rejoices when you learn the truth about yourself
      12.

          ALWAYS Endures the offenses of others against you
      13.

          ALWAYS Believes the best in others
      14.

          ALWAYS Hopes in the best for others
      15.

          ALWAYS Endures the irritations and deficiencies of others

     

    This is just the beginning in seeing our Pride and Selfishness as God sees us.

    Continue to study the life of Christ from the pages of the scriptures so that God can show you any un-Christ-like attitudes of pride and selfishness and it's resulting behavior.

    Ask God to show you your sin of pride and selfishness.  Trust God that He will show you and He will.  Remember, sin, pride and selfishness is like sickness.  Would you find it acceptable to stay sick? Of course not!  Why would you find it acceptable to keep your sin that will lead to death?

     

    What is the key to victory over sin?

    It is to humble self (I Pet.5:5-6) and die to self (Rom.6:6).  A dead man when kicked, punched or insulted does not respond in anger. He is dead.  Only when we play dead do we respond back in anger when someone treats us badly.  Conversely, when a dead man is praised, he does not respond to that either. (Rom.6:11; Gal.6:14)

    Do you want victory over selfishness and pride?  I Pet.4:1 tells us the key is to say NO to the pleasure of sin, NO to doing our will, NO to doing what we want.  Only then will we cease from sin.  When we say NO to our self, when our pride and self will suffers, then and only then we stop sinning.

    Romans 15:1 says we must NEVER please ourselves because Christ NEVER pleased Himself (Rom.15:3).  We must follow in His footsteps EXACTLY if we are to have real victory.

    We can follow Christ's example only if we humble our self to receive the grace of God to empower us to live victoriously (Ja.4:6; I Pet.5:5-6).  But we must clothe our self with humility (I Pet.5:5).  Meaning, we can't humble our self in just one area and live a life of self sufficiency and pride in all the other areas. We must cover all our life in humility, from top to bottom.

    Are you dead to the world, sin and self, but alive to Christ?  Only then can we be freed from the power of sin.

    Let him who has an ear, hear.