Living in the Spirit
August 23, 2022
Scripture Reading: Sirach 10:12-18
The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.
For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,
and destroys them completely.
The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,
and enthrones the lowly in their place.
The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations,
and plants the humble in their place.
The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,
and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.
He removes some of them and destroys them,
and erases the memory of them from the earth.
Pride was not created for human beings,
or violent anger for those born of women.
Pride is defined as haughtiness*
Pride is inordinate self-esteem**
Pride is the first of the seven deadly sins. We today use the word more loosely. How many times have you heard someone say, I take pride in introducing our next speaker? I do not think they are being haughty. They are implying that they gain self-esteem by the mere opportunity to introduce someone whom they hold in high esteem. In reading this scripture we must not substitute wholesome self-esteem for the pride used in the above scripture.
King Solomon is credited with saying Pride comes before the fall. (See Book of Proverbs, 16:18) I think he is talking about pride that one has when one thinks both that they can never make a mistake or admit it or that they are better than everyone else because of their accomplishments. Brittle pride will get us into trouble every time.
One of my current pet peeves is getting an email taking a poll on whether I approve of a certain candidate. I have no right to approve or disapprove of any person God created and God created all people. What they could ask is whether I approve of the candidate’s position on certain issues. I think the subtle difference in the two questions is one of the major problems in our political systems today. We vote for people for the wrong reasons.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when our self-esteem rises to a state of brittle pride. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1346.htm
**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Pride
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.