4 Dangerous Symptoms of Pride

Pride is the undoing of the Christians faith.  It most often breeds overconfidence in our lives while preventing us from doing the one thing we should be…calling out for our Savior.   As Jesus said in Mark 2:17 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

When we allow pride to rule our lives, we tend to push Christ to the side…because, after all we aren’t sick.  As dangerous as it is, pride is also very difficult to spot.  Have you ever heard the saying “I’m the least prideful person I know.”  We laugh, but often we subconsciously take on that attitude.

There are many areas in our lives in which pride can seep in.  For that reason we have compiled a few symptoms of pride for us as believers to self diagnose.  So without further adieu…

4 Dangerous Symptoms of Pride

1. Fault-Finding

Pride can often cause us to filter out the sin in our own lives.  Conversely, it can also cause us to pinpoint the sin in others.  So common is this practice, that Jesus made mention of it in Matthew 7:5 where he tells us to remove the plank from our own eyes before focusing on the splinter in our brothers.

If we are continually focusing on the sin in others it can be evidence of pride in our lives.  Finding fault is different than loving correction.  And pride is that difference.  If you find yourself constantly pointing out the faults of others, perhaps it is time to point the finger inwards and examine your own heart.

2. A Harsh Spirit

Often accompanying our “faul-finder” is a harsh Spirit.  From our high and mighty seat, it is easy to cast dispersions on those who are struggling.  We can often speak of other’s sin with irritation, frustration, or judgement.  This is not bred out of humility or a connection with our brokenness, it comes from a place of arrogance.  This symptom of pride can be very damaging to our loved ones and church bodies.

Jonathan Edwards writes in an article about pride… “Christians who are but fellow-worms ought at least to treat one another with as much humility and gentleness as Christ treats them.”

3. A Superficial Heart

When pride is the ruler of our life, other’s perceptions of us become of the utmost importance.  Rather than focusing our attention inward on our hearts, we choose to superficially manufacture how we appear on the outside.  This is dangerous.

Jesus is not concerned with our outward appearance.  He is not impressed with how many “Jesus Fish” bumper stickers we have, or how large our Bible is.  He is concerned with our hearts.

When pride lives in our hearts, we’re far more concerned with others’ perceptions of us than the reality.  We fight the sins that have an impact on how others view us, and make peace with the ones that no one sees. We have great success in the areas of holiness that have highly visible accountability, but little concern for the disciplines that happen in secret.

4. Defensiveness

Those who stand in the strength of Christ’s righteousness alone find a confident hiding place from the attacks of men and Satan alike. True humility is notknocked off balance and thrown into a defensive posture by challenge or rebuke, but instead continues in doing good, entrusting the soul to our faithful Creator.

Again, Jonathan Edwards says, “For the humble Christian, the more the world is against him, the more silent and still he will be, unless it is in his prayer closet, and there he will not be still.”

 

There are many other signs of pride in our lives, but the important thing to remember is this… If Christ, our Savior, came to us in humility and humanity how can we as his Bride come to him in any other form?