Part3- The pride of life
1John 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.
This is the " It's all about me " sin.
This study , though it goes along with the other 2 parts of this series, goes a lot deeper in study than the others did . As in the others where these temptations ctually lead into other sins, so also does this one but, i believe this one is a root that branches out in so many ways we need to fully understand it's reach to be able to stand firmly on the word against it.
Let's start out by investigating the meaning of the word pride, and we will also learn the meaning of each of the words that stem from it.
Pride- a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct,a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem. pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride. something that causes a person or persons to be proud.
These are the synonyms for pride- conceit, self-esteem, egotism, vanity, vainglory .
Conceit- an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance.
Self- Esteem- an inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself.
Egotism- excessive and objectionable reference to oneself in conversation or writing; conceit; boastfulness. selfishness; self-centeredness.
Vanity- excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain; conceit.
Vainglory- excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements, abilities, etc.; boastful vanity. empty pomp or show.
When you look at all these definitions you really get your eyes opened to the seriousness of this particular sin that Satan uses.
This sin ,(or temptation that leads to sin) goes back much further than Adam and Eve. Though they were the first to be recorded as His first victims so to speak, it was around long before them. It actually began with satan himself. This was the very cause of Him as Lucifer -Son of the Morning- being thrown out of heaven. The complete picture of this story can be found in Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekial 28:11-19. But the basics of it are that he sid I am going to make my throne above God's and be greater than God. Wow, talk about an ego.
Then we fast forward to the garden of eden where we see that this was the final temptation that satan used on Eve before the fall of man . Why did he use that one and why does he still use that one? Because that is the very thing that he wants for himself; to be equal or higher than God.
Leaping forwrd to the temptation of Jesusin Matthew 4:8-11. Satan tries to get Jesus to bow down and worship him by tempting Jesus with power and glory. But, once again we see that Jesus stood firmly on the Word of God. Seeing his failure at bringing Jesus down through temptation satan left to plot other ways of destroying Jesus.
Now as we go in to the temptation used in the here and now I am going to defer to a study I found that pretty much sums up all that I would like to say and maybe even makes it clearer.However the author of this is unknow you can read it in it's complete form at http://nobody.hubpages.com/hub/Lifes-Little-Temptations-Part-3-The-Pride-Of-Life.
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 1013)
"Do not love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
"It's my life, I'll live it the way I want." That statement says a lot about how most people feel about their existence. They don't want anyone telling them what to do that is not a source that they trust. Even when people give them advice that they need, want, and expect, they still want to feel in complete control. You may think that is okay, but what makes it not okay is that many rebel against the idea that anyone is above them in authority, even God. They give up control to no one. The reality is everyone has someone in authority over them.
"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:6)
Every graduation speech ever made has said something about the student's life stretching out before them and gives them the prompting, "Go live it to it's fullest!" Ah, the pride of life! What will I make of my life? What things will I gather to my life? What people will I surround myself with to keep my life full? What can life do for me today? I see my kingdom stretched out before me - now bow to me - for I am king of my world!
When one considers any verse of Scripture on pride, one thing will always surface. Pride is always viewed as sin. There is no application of the word pride that you can find in Scripture that concludes pride is not sin. Given that fact, we are in trouble right away. Everywhere in the world, and in Christianity in particular, parents are telling children to be proud of themselves, to be proud of their country, of their heritage, of their race, to be proud of their life.
When one asks a Christian who uses the term pride why he uses that word, the usual response to the question is, "When I say proud, I mean it in a different way, a good way." Exactly what way might that be? "Oh, you know pride, you make me feel good, feel happy, you know, proud." When you get them to think more about the choice of that particular word, most really feel that there is no other word that fits what they want to convey. Thus they have a problem whether they know it or not.
Let us start with a definition in the common English language. The word pride is defined, according to the Webster's Standard Dictionary, as: "self-esteem; haughtiness or disdain." Is that what was meant by the Christian that uses the word? Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't. The word proud is defined as: "full of self-esteem; of vain or arrogant conceit; dignified." Was that what was meant by the Christian using the term? maybe the "dignified" part? But then how does another's behavior or attitude cause you to be dignified? "I am so proud of you son, you make me feel dignified?" I believe it is these type questions that expose that sense of being lifted up, of pride.
Let's try to be reasonable here. Many of these are good Christian people that don't mean pride in its Biblical sense when they use the word "pride" or "proud." Sometimes they mean "you make me rejoice in my spirit." Sometimes they mean "you bless my heart" or "you bring me joy" or "the choices you make fill me with gladness" and other things in that vein. They don't intend to say that the other person lifts them up with haughtiness and makes them feel differently about themselves than they thought before, or that they should think. People should consider how to say these sentiments in a way that does not include pride.
I believe a better concept for the Christian to exhibit in this life is self-awareness. We are to be aware of the people around us. We are to be aware if we are an example for God and how we measure up to His expectations. We are to be aware if our behavior is a stumbling block to others or is unhealthy to ourselves. We are to be self-aware, The issue of our self-worth is an entirely different matter and is provided by the indwelling Spirit. He is the One that lifts us up. He rewards us with blessings. He sanctifies us. He guides our path as we walk among men. We are to walk with God and be self-aware.
To be a child of the King and a joint-heir with Christ means that we are given great mercy and bestowed an honor we don't deserve. The honor makes us special, for if we do not tell others of Jesus, who will? But it does not lift us up to be better than anyone. We are all sinners saved by grace. We were the recipients of great grace. We are no more worthy of this, than Israel is to be God's chosen people. They were not to think of themselves any differently than gentiles, yet being called of God, they bore a special burden to give the gospel to the world.
"Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference." (Romans 3:22)
"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For all who call on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:12-13)
Pride is a hideous sin and insidious. It eases in when one does not pay attention, when one is not self-aware.
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)
"A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked one are sin." (Proverbs 21:4)
I believe the phrase above, "plowing of the wicked one" is a reference to Satan and his connection to this horrible sin which so easily besets all of us.
"He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exults his gate seeks destruction." (Proverbs 17:19)
"It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek ones own glory is not glory." (Proverbs 25:27)
So what is our example to follow as we live this life? Is it not to imitate Christ and His attitudes when He was on earth? How did God in human flesh view these things of which we have been speaking? If anyone could have been proud of Himself, would it not have been Christ? But Christ, in fact, shunned pride and anything else that distracted from what was of real worth - eternity and His purpose for being here. We also being made into Christ's image should shun worldly pride and remember why we are here, to fulfill our purpose.
"Therefore you shall be perfect [complete, made into the image of Christ], just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
Christ was free from all pride:
Of appearance: "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." (Isaiah 53:2)
Of world success: "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces from Him." (Isaiah 53:3)
Of reputation: "And He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." "And Nathaniel said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (Matthew 2:23; John 1:46)
Of riches: "And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Matthew 8:20)
Of rank; "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? and His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? (Matthew 13:55)
Of kingship: "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)
It was not like Jesus did not think of these things. He told his followers for example, to regard their appearance (as they normally would) when they were fasting. He said He is a king. But His idea of success and riches and kingship were all aimed at heaven, eternity, and pleasing the Father. He thought of all those things but not with regard to reaping reward here. That is how we are to view pride, we are to follow Christ. We are to be all things to all people so as to be accepted enough to present them the gospel. We are to be heavenly-minded so that we are some earthly good.
As for me I plan to spend a great deal of time w/ God searching me to see if there is any of these sins with in me and with the Word of God through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, I plan to get rid of all that I find. I know this will not be a one time thing but, being made aware of it helps to open our eyes to the tricks and temptations that satan uses and and do a better job of following hard after God and standing firm against the wiles of the devil.
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