Pride

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-29

Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors. Proverbs 29:23 (The Message) 

I was asked to respond to a request from Homestead Presbytery. Each week, the presbytery circulates a newsletter that includes a prayer request for one of the churches in the presbytery. I reviewed our church’s newsletter for ideas about what to include in the request. At the end of the newsletter is a table identifying all the activities offered at Eastridge starting this month. The number and variety of offerings are impressive. As I began writing the prayer request, I initially stated that we were proud of all the opportunities. But I hesitated: is “pride” the right word to use?  

The dictionary defines pride as “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” But as noted in the scriptures above, the Bible does not look favorably on the notion of “pride.” In fact, pride is one of Dante’s seven deadly sins and some theologians and philosophers have found that it is the deadliest of sins, the root of all evil and the beginning of sin. 

So, is it poor judgment to state that we’re “proud” of Eastridge? It might be better to find another word. One list of synonyms for pride includes delight, dignity, happiness, honor, joy, pleasure, and satisfaction. Any of those words could be used to describe our feelings about Eastridge and its impact on the community through programming and mission. It may not make any difference which word we use; we must always remember that none of this would be possible without God’s help.  

Prayer: Dear God, while we feel pleasure and satisfaction in the opportunities Eastridge is able to provide to its members and the community, we realize that You are the basis for everything. Help us to always keep in mind your role in the life of our church. Amen. 

Robin Hadfield