Loud and Proud?
by Daniel Carandang
"Sorry, tao lang!"
Filipino people love using this excuse whenever they are accused of being something in a negative sense.
Sorry, tao lang!
We make excuses whenever we know we're in the wrong or when we think what we did is what we can call a respectable sin. You justify your acts by thinking that no one is perfect and since everyone is a sinner, it's normal to be proud or to lust.
You are human after all.
But what we don't know is these respectable sins may look harmless at first but bit by bit they can eat us and in the end, lead us to deep devastation.
So let's get down to business.
PRIDE.
No, we're not talking about a detergent brand.
Pride is the type of sin hard to detect in us by ourselves. We easily spot it on other people and willingly point it out for them. But when it comes to us, we deny to death. For some, they blatantly are proud. There are others who act as if they're not but inside, they think highly of themselves.
There are various types of pride: Intellectual (the typical know-it-all), doctrinal (the typical Bible know-it-all), moral (the 'okay-ikaw-na-the-best' type) and spiritual ( the 'I-don't-need-spiritual-mentoring-fellowship-thank-you-very-much' person).
We think being proud can be tolerated because let's face it: we are people after all.
But the Bible warns us against pride.
1. PRIDE is not of God
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:3-8
Humility is a trait of Christ. Despite being the Son of God, He chose to come down here on Earth and die a shameful death to save us from our sins. If we are Christians, we are to be Christ-like and since Christ exemplified humility, so should we.
If we claim to be the children of God, it is improper of us to be proud when our God is not. We should become role models to others, especially to those who doubt our faith.
It also destroys our relationship with others. When we look at them as inferior, they would otherwise stray away from our company. People don't like being with other people who think they're better than the rest. It just annoys them.
2. Pride leads to destruction
Pride goes before destruction,
A haughty spirit before a fall.
If we claim to be the children of God, it is improper of us to be proud when our God is not. We should become role models to others, especially to those who doubt our faith.
It also destroys our relationship with others. When we look at them as inferior, they would otherwise stray away from our company. People don't like being with other people who think they're better than the rest. It just annoys them.
2. Pride leads to destruction
Pride goes before destruction,
A haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
The consequences of pride will always come.
Have you ever shunned off a friendly advice because you thought you knew better?
Kevin Ware was apparently advised to take it easy before the game that made everyone cringe whenever it was replayed all over again. The NBA Star shook off the advice, believing that nothing could stop him from his game.
We all know what happened next.
He injured himself and it wasn't exactly the prettiest sight.
Pride can take a toll on your life. A haughty spirit may be ignorant of the consequences that immediately follows. We think we're better than the others? Don't need any other advice cause we know it all?
Think again.
3. Pride keeps us from God's grace
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”[a]
but shows favor to the humble.”[a]
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:5-7
Point blank: God is not for the proud people. When we allow pride to overrule us, we are actually blocking the blessings God intended for us. He's not fond for those who think that they are better than the others. We are all equally made in the image of God, no one is better than the other.
Self-check: maybe it's time to deflate those air-filled egos and think that other people are better than ourselves. Being too proud or egotistic can shun away the closest of friends, lead to disaster or simply ruin our lives without us noticing. Stop excusing yourself from pride!
Be humble as Christ was humble!
Written by Ashley Petallano (c) 2013
Self-check: maybe it's time to deflate those air-filled egos and think that other people are better than ourselves. Being too proud or egotistic can shun away the closest of friends, lead to disaster or simply ruin our lives without us noticing. Stop excusing yourself from pride!
Be humble as Christ was humble!
Written by Ashley Petallano (c) 2013
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