The Root of Pride

The Root of Pride

By Apostle Felix

11  The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart.
12  Remember this: If you have a lofty opinion of yourself and seek to be honored, you will be humbled. But if you have a modest opinion of yourself and choose to humble yourself, you will be honored.”

Matthew 23: 11, 12

The root of pride is independence. We are not talking about political independence, but spiritual independence. This is when man declares independence from God. He rejects God’s ruler-ship over his life.The first man Adam declared independence from God and that led to the fall of man. Independence has been at the core of man’s behavior throughout the history of mankind. Religion is embedded in independence. It is an attempt by man to serve God on his own terms. An attitude that rejects God’s word and settles for man’s traditions.

3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

Genesis 3: 3

Religion sounds like God because it has what God has said. In most cases, it may even be morally upright but relying absolutely on man’s efforts to be morally upright. And it is that tendency that turns religious people into living hypocritical lives. In Jesus’ day, the teachers of the law took so much pride in their religious activities and in following the traditions of men. From the outside, the religious teachers appeared perfect but their hearts were far from God. They embraced traditions of men and rejected the Prince of life. Adam and Eve fell in the same trap. They rejected life and settled for the lie satan had sold to them. God had given man one commandment of not to eat from a tree of knowledge of good and evil. Never did God say that they should not touch it. When satan came around and tempted man, Eve’s response added words which God had not said. Religion is not totally void of God’s word. In most cases, it is a combination of God’s word and man’s words that results in religion. It is man’s words that become a burden to man.

4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 

Matthew 23: 4

Man added words to the word of God that became a burden to the believers. The teachers of the law had burdened the people with man made regulations that had nothing to do with God. Since the regulations were man made, the teachers of the law resisted anyone who came forth with the word from the Lord. Jesus was resisted and hated because His teachings undermined the traditions of men.

2  “Why do your disciples ignore the traditions of our elders? For example, they don’t ceremonially wash their hands before they eat bread.”
3  Jesus answered, “And why do you ignore the commandment of God because of your traditions? 

Matthew 15: 2, 3

Pride is rooted in the rejection of God’s word on the expense of protecting the  traditions of men. Oftentimes, people reject Jesus because they are protecting their religion or beliefs. The motivation is always to remain independent from God. Man wants to live by his own standards. The teachers of the law rejected Jesus because they were protecting their traditions. What are you protecting from Jesus? So many believers do not want to hear the message of Christ because it may interfere a lot with their doctrinal position of their denomination. Denominations protect their doctrinal positions from God. Individuals too, tend to protect their dogmas from Christ.

Humility is a total submission to God’s word. This has nothing got to do with memorization of scriptures. But it is submitting to the Lord of Jesus Christ and His finished work. The root of pride is the rejection of the revelation of Christ in the scriptures and what He has done for man.

6  But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.”
7  So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will turn and run away from you. 

James 4: 6, 7