The Pride Factor

When Paul says, Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited I was given a thorn in my flesh, we have the first window into one of the purposes of our fleshly thorns: God is at work on our character. It reminds us that the work of God in us is more important than his work through us.

In one sense the Apostle had every reason to be prideful. He had been transported into the third heaven and heard unimaginable things. If you were graced with “visions and revelations” like Paul, would you have been dying to tell a few friends about it? Paul was reticent to say anything about it. Yet the sin behind all sins was lurking there, always ready to pounce. The gift of this thorn in Paul’s flesh was a constant reminder from God that he needed to stay away from the sin behind all sins. In every chapter of our lives, and in every aspect of our discipleship journey, pride is our strongest opponent, and humility is our dearest friend.

How prideful are you? Consider these symptoms:

• You don’t think you struggle with pride. Maybe others, not you.
• You overstate your abilities or massively understate them to receive praise.
• You feed on the praise of others and feel sick when no one comments on your performance.

Would you describe yourself as humble or prideful? It’s tricky because if you say, “Oh I’m a rather humble person,” you just lost it. Would your closest friends describe you as humble? Even that is difficult to answer as it is easier to spot pride in others than ourselves. To probe even deeper, how would God view you—prideful or humble?

King David answers that question in Psalm 131. At first reading, his opening line, My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty sounds prideful. That is until you realize he is talking to God, not others, about his heart, his ambitions, and his projects. David was saying, “Lord you know all about me. As I write this, my heart is not proud.” What would you say to God, right at this moment? Reflect on the pride factor in your life and ministry.

How do we overcome pride? Psalm 131:2 tells us how David worked on it. He talks to himself: But I have calmed and quieted myself. It’s as if he is saying, “Soul, stop being so prideful. Calm down, Settle down.” Then he describes what happens when he does that. He becomes like a weaned child with his mother. No longer striving. No longer fussing. Just happily by his mother’s side.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the way God dealt with Paul’s prideful heart, was to give him a thorn in his flesh. It reminded him how weak he was. Why? It was something he couldn’t control. He couldn’t fix it. He was unable to. Paul was learning contentment by running into God’s always-adequate arms of grace.

Maybe say this prayer or verbalize your own prayer, in response to the way God is shaping your character by the irritating and painful experiences you are going through:

Most high and exalted God,

you have said that you live in a high and holy place,

but also with people who are contrite and lowly in spirit.

That’s me today.

I confess my pridefulness in the way I compare myself with others.

Thank you for uncovering my prideful heart.

I’m grateful for any reminders that you are shaping me

to be more like your Son, my humble and lowly Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Excerpts from The Point of Your Thorns: Finding Purpose in Your Pain

by Rowland Forman