One of the most troubling and challenging quotes I have read, an idea that gnawed at me (for my benefit) and from time to time haunts me still(again for my benefit) is a quote from C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity
This excerpt comes from the chapter titled "The Great Sin" and the discussion of pride:
"the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others" (p. 121)
"if you want to find out how proud you are the easiest way is to ask yourself, 'How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronise me, or show off?" (p. 122)
It is very easy for me, and my pride, to assure myself that I am a humble enough person. But a time when pride can be uncovered, when it cannot help keep itself concealed in our hearts and minds is when it comes into conflict with another's pride. Our pride is no longer hidden, it is rearing its ugly head, but often we are too enthralled with the desires of our pride to take a step back and see our pride for what it is.
The test is to see how much I am bothered by others' pride. If I am bothered by another's selfishness I can safely say it is because of my own. While it is possible to dislike pride out of righteousness, for me to credit that as my reason would simply be yet another expression of my pride. No, I am better off to note how often and how much other's pride bothers me, and use that as a gauge of my own pride. Most of the time I get ruffled by another's selfishness it's not because the situation actually warrants such feelings, but that my pride feels threatened.
I encourage you to take note of when and where you find yourself bothered by pride, and to evaluate your reasoning. You may find it intriguing and humbling to discover how much our pride is alive and well within us.
As with all things the conviction of sin is not meant to be an end, for us to wallow in, but to spur us back to Jesus who has made a way and washes us clean. If you discover, as I have with myself, that your pride is far healthier than you imagined, do not despair, do not seek (out of human pride) to fix yourself, but instead turn to Jesus who is transforming and sanctifying his bride. Amen
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