This morning at a local high school track meet I had the pleasure of watching my son run the fastest 1600 meters he has ever run. If you are not familiar with track events, that distance is about a mile. Last week he achieved a personal record in the 800 meter race. So his senior track season is off to a strong start. I am proud of the strategic race he ran, the work he puts into training, the leadership and support he invests in his team, and his desire to put God first. But whether he is a fast runner or not, no matter what he achieves I would still be proud of him, because he is my son and I love him. Likewise God loves you. He considers you priceless and he wants your best which is to be with him as his son or daughter.
Recognize God’s Glory
Pride can be destructive or it can be beneficial. It depends on whom the boasting is directed. If you put yourself before others, promote yourself at other’s expense, or think too much of yourself, then it will harm you and others. If you compare yourself to others seeking to lift yourself up as you push them down, that’s wrong and unhealthy. The Bible warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18) and “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6). You can be proud of doing well, but don’t attribute that success solely to yourself. Acknowledge others who may have had a role in your achievement. Most importantly, recognize the fundamental role God has played. God advised the prophet Jeremiah, “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). God created you and blessed you with the ability and resources to do what you have done. Everything that is good, right, loving, and beautiful finds its source in him (James 1:17, 1 John 4:8). He has given his son, Jesus, to innocently die and to rise again so you can be saved from your wrongdoing. Anyone who trusts in Jesus can experience everlasting life and become all they were designed to be—united with God as a child in his royal family (John 3:16-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Live for God’s Glory
Given such divine blessings, how should each of us respond? Here are four brief suggestions:
- Praise God. Thank him for who he is and what he has done in Jesus to save you and offer you new life. Give him the glory he alone deserves.
- Rely on God. Humbly depend on him, drawing your life from him and bearing fruit as a branch abides in the vine (John 15:1-8). Recognize that you can do nothing significant without him. But at the same time realize that God is not proud of you because of what you do for him. He is proud of you for who you are becoming in him through faith. Of all the wealth, status, and success that the Jewish patriarch Abraham “achieved,” God did not commend him for that. It was by his faith in God which consists of hope, loyalty, trust, and obedience that enabled God to grow him as a person and to work through him to start the Hebrew nation.
- View Weakness as Opportunity. Although you have many shortcomings and face trials in this fallen world of broken people, don’t let that defeat you. You can have victory by trusting God (Romans 8:31-39; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11). When you do God promises to bring all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Confess your sin and shortcomings to God (1 John 1:9). Receive his forgiveness, restoration, and power. He will deliver through suffering to strengthen you and refine your character to be like Jesus (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:1-5; Hebrews 12:7-11). His grace is sufficient for you like it was for the apostle Paul who was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming proud. Paul wrote, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).
- Boast of God. He alone deserves your praise (Revelation 4:11; 1 Chronicles 16:22-25). There is nothing better or more satisfying for you than to find your worth and completeness in God and his love. So root your pleasure in pleasing him (Ephesians 5:8-14). Proclaim his greatness. Make the most of him in how you think, speak, and act so you and hopefully others can lovingly draw closer to him.
Conclusion
Pride will be your downfall if you focus it on yourself. Instead you should boast of God who is worthy of all praise. He loves you and has given you all you need for life, liberty, and happiness if by faith you use it for his glory and not your own. Rely on his power rather than your own strength. As you live for God and learn how awesome he is, share that with others so they can come to know him also.