A Pride Issue

I just finished reading Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders. Every single page of this book brought along with it some challenges.  The second to last chapter was all about the perils of leadership and not surprisingly, the first one mentioned was ‘pride.’

The author points out that “the victim of pride is often the least aware of the sin.”

Sanders also provided three tests that help us identify the problem:

• The test of precedence: How do we react when another is selected for the position we wanted to fill?When another is promoted in our place? When another’s gifts seem greater than our own?
• The test of sincerity: In our moments of honest self-reflection, we often admit to problems and weakness. How do we feel when others identify the same problem within us?
• Test of criticism: Does criticism lead to immediate resentment and self-justification? Do we rush to criticize the critic?

These tests brought to the surface the fact that I tend to be a proud person at heart. I tend to be jealous of others that have accomplished what I want to accomplish. I tend to get hurt if others point out failures in my character. I tend to become defensive when others criticize me.

I am more aware than ever that I need to pray for a humble heart.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that
of Christ Jesus:

 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:3-11