Better Relationships #10 - The Pride Problem

In this blog series on better relationships, we have taken a close look at 1^st Corinthians 13. This is part of a larger section on how a church is to work and it is to be a place where people love one another. This chapter has some examples of what love is, such as being patient and kind. There are also examples of what love is not. It is not jealous or proud.

Love and pride are incompatible, yet pride is part of the sinful nature that comes with every human being since Adam and Eve. How do we truly love one another in our family, and in our church? How do we overcome this tendency toward pride?

 

1. TAKE TIME TO LISTEN

We need to take time to listen to others because overcoming pride is done through getting advice. Proud people think they know everything.  People who are able to have good relationships with others, seek advice from others, and are open to listening to others. 

Proverbs 13:10 “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Getting advice does slow you down. All too often we are in a hurry, we think there is an urgency, therefore we need to make the decision and do it right now. I was listening to a podcast with Jocko Willink who was a Navy SEAL, and they have a saying. “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Our pride inflates our self-worth and thinks that we will make the best decision and do it in a hurry. To overcome pride we need to take time to listen.

God speaks to us through gifted teachers, through circumstances that are sometimes painful, through listening to Him in prayer, and through the Bible. Take the time to listen, not just to wise people in your life, but more importantly listen to God.

 

2. ALLOW OTHERS TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE

The Pacific Conference is a connectional system. There are a lot of positive things about this connectional system and one is that there is accountability. Accountability isn’t always fun, but it is important. Pride keeps us from accountability. Pride makes us lonely because it pushes us to go it alone and not be accountable to anyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”

 

3. GIVE YOUR LIFE IN SERVICE

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus hung out with rich and poor alike.  In Luke 14 Jesus was at a banquet at a rich man’s house.  The food is coming out and everyone is worried about getting the most honored place to sit at the banquet.  Jesus has to straighten out people who are busy tripping over their own pride and posturing, telling them to look to the needs of others. Service, humility, and holiness are demonstrated when you serve people who cannot do anything for you. To be like Christ, to let go of our pride and have better relationships we are to give our lives in service of others.