by Pastor Wendall Ward
Boasting and pride are relatively the same. Both are the result of an inflated view of oneself in contrast to the humble attitude of seeing ourselves as a son and a servant of Christ. The love of God is not proud.
Proud Flesh
When I was a little boy visiting Grannie’s house in the country (and I do mean country), I loved to sit and listen to the Oldtimers talk. Hearing their stories in the language of their culture was an adventure and an education. Every now and then a phrase would pop up that I thought perfectly expressed a common experience –“proud flesh” was one such phrase. In an earlier era, “proud flesh” described the swollen granulated flesh around a wound and was used metaphorically to describe someone acting arrogantly.
Puffer Fish
Similarly, the puffer fish, which inflates as a defense mechanism when caught or threatened, is a picture of human pride. One of the few times I went saltwater fishing with my lifelong friend Nick, I caught a fish that looked like a balloon with a mouth and a tail. I had never seen one before and I must say my first impression was, “UGLY.” The puffer fish is a perfect picture of human pride.
The interesting thing about proud flesh and puffer fish is that the first one is a protective reaction. And the second is a defense mechanism against a perceived threat.
The Greek word for “pride” or “proud” means: “to puff up, blow up, inflate”. Applied in scriptures is usually refers to someone with an “inflated” view of themselves (Rom 12:3). The apostle Paul says in Colossians 2:18-19 that such a view is the product of an “unspiritual mind” that has “lost connection with the HEAD (Jesus)”.
Humility Not Pride
Paul tried to put the whole matter into perspective for the church in chapter 4; “What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are so great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own? (1 Corinthians 4:7, TLB)
Humility is perhaps the greatest protection against pride. As we walk in humility, we see ourselves more clearly. Humility will mature and expand the heart to be a greater conduit of God’s love, grace, and mercy.
Love Is The Antidote For Pride
Pride is the protective reaction of a wounded and insecure soul. It looks for worth and personal value in associations with others or identification with gifts and abilities. LOVE IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PRIDE. It humbles and reminds us that “all that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to THEE. To God be the glory, … to God be the glory for the things HE has done.” (From the hymn “To God Be The Glory”, by Andrae Crouch.)
Love is Strength and Validation
The apostle Paul gets the last word: “Yes, we know that ‘we all have knowledge’ about [an] issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes” –1 Cor 8:1-3, NLT. Our strength is “Christ in us” and our validation is Christ flowing through LOVE to a broken world.
Let me encourage you to let your light shine through your love for others. Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Enjoy this song, “Love Never Fails”, by Brandon Heath https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP4jVs97q24
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