Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:15-16
The pride of life to begin with is the self-will of an individual. Pride speaks to one’s own self-knowledge. It encompasses one’s goals, values, opinions, and beliefs. It is the individual’s identity. It is also what an individual is born into such as family, nation, and status. This is the world system that we live in. It is all of the “I will” of individuals who have desires and longings to be something or like someone else. One’s own self achievements and possessions. Did you know that humility is the opposite of pride? Humility is a modest view of one’s own importance. It does not Lord over its own importance over others. Whereas pride does because it is set on being number one in the world. Pride came into the world through Lucifer who decided to rebel against God and desired to exalt his own throne above God [see Isaiah 14:12-14]. Lucifer, who is Satan, said boldly, “I will be like the Most-High God,” in verse 14 of Isaiah chapter 14. Pride in man becomes a status symbol where the saying of “I am better than you,” takes over. Those with pride can bring violence where heated arguments turn into violent combat. Those who are unbelievers are under Satan’s control of the world principles of greed, selfishness, ambition, and pleasure. This is a force in the world where rivalries and ambitions are upheld over the welfare of people.
The snare of the devil is when man is tempted of his own desires wanting to be lifted up above others. The apostle Paul warned about new converts that if they be lifted up into a position in the church that pride could enter into their hearts and cause them to fall into the condemnation of the devil, [see 1Timothy 3:6]. Paul was referring to the choosing of the church Elders and Deacons. Anyone’s position should not become a status symbol of superiority. Paul tells us in regard to Christian service that “we are laborers together with God,” [1 Corinthians 3:9]. A Christian who walks in the Spirit is a child of God and is concerned for the wellbeing of other Christians as well as for those who are not Christians. When pride enters a man’s heart, God is not in his thoughts [see Psalms 10:4]. They have become self-centered in their ways, and it is always grievous. Just read Psalms chapter 10 and you will see how David describes those who are living in pride. How they are not moved within their heart and how their mouth is full of cursing, deceit and fraud. Those who are proud will oppress those who are under them such as the poor. We see the pain in the world of those who are oppressed today by leaders who are prideful and demanding. There is no devotion to the welfare of others.
Pride compasses them about like a chain; violence covered them like a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression.
Psalms 73:6-8
Those with pride have lost their focus on God and see only what their heart desires. Even though they already have everything. This is why it is dangerous for Christians to only focus on obtaining wealth in the world. The apostle Paul stated that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” We cannot take our wealth with us when we die. Paul tells us in 1st Timothy chapter 6 that just having food and clothing we should be content. Listen to what else Paul says.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:9-10
It is not money itself that is evil, but what we do to get it becomes evil when you abuse someone to get it, or when you lie and cheat to get it at someone’s expense. The individual’s focus has changed and is no longer on God. Those who are rich placed themselves above others and tend to be abusive and controlling. They fall into hurtful lust which are passions, cravings, and indulgences. When Paul comments about those who love money have moved away from faith in God and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, we should think twice about what money represents. What value does it hold in our life is the question we should be asking. Because of their pride they have fallen into the condemnation of the devil [see 1Timothy 3:6]. Their conscience is no longer pure like it once was. A Christian is not to be prideful, but instead to be humble and practice godliness.
Only through Christ can we walk a holy and godly life. It is the Holy Spirit that changes our character into the image of Christ character where love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, and self-control become our character and behavior. This is done through faith in Christ and not in self-effort [see Galatians 5:22-26]. We must allow the new life of Christ to be worked through us by the Holy Spirit. It must be worked through us by the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that we must follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness [see 1 Timothy 6:11]. Paul tells us to flee the things that would bring you back into bondage and turn from following the way of the world where the character of sin begins to take over in your mind and heart.
That is why Paul states in verse 12 of 1 Timothy chapter 6 to “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, unto which thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. We must have a good profession of Christ before many witnesses. We must repent and be restored into Christ love once again if we have fallen from the faith we had in Christ. Remember that whatever is not of faith is sin. We fight with our own faith because the things of this world would draw us down a different path of many sorrows and pain. We must learn and know our own weaknesses and bring them to God in prayer and ask him for His strength for our weaknesses. We must believe in God and have faith to overcome all wickedness and evil. Read the chapter on faith in Hebrews chapter 11. This is our example of those who had faith. They were able to:
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.”
Hebrews 11:34
No matter what the situation, our life is in God’s hands, and we look forward to the resurrection of our bodies to eternal life. Jesus Christ has begotten us unto a lively hope by the resurrection of his body from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that faded not away, reserved in heaven for you. We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time [1 Peter 1 3-5]. Kept by the power of God through faith, and that is why it is so important to fight the good fight of faith and not to fall into the pride of life which is not of the Father God. We must hold onto our deliverance who is Christ Jesus. Remember the words of Jesus!
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.“
John 16:33
Praise God through Jesus Christ we are all overcomers if we believe.
