“Pride disguises itself in many ways. It’s so pervasive that it has to be subtle. If it knew only one form, we’d stop it dead in its tracks. So it spawns. Pride morphs, and it creeps in using methods that often go unnoticed.”- Carey Nieuwhof
In Chapter 9 (“Not Just the Narcissists”) of Didn’t See It Coming, Carey Nieuwhof discusses how pride gets the best of us. Because pride runs deep, Carey notes, we tend to believe these things:
- It’s more important what other people think than what God thinks.
- God’s love for me isn’t enough.
- Unless I also have the approval of others, God’s approval of me is inadequate.
- Appearances count for a lot.
- My identity rests in what other people think of me.
Furthermore, Pastor Nieuwhof states, it’s so easy to spot pride . . . in other people. Also, narcissism represents the most obvious form of pride. But this isn’t an issue for most people. Yet, the author, adds, even though most of us don’t see ourselves as proud, many of us are. In fact, Benjamin Franklin once said this about pride:
“In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases; it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”
In conclusion, Carey writes that even a gnawing sense of inferiority can lead to an obsession with self. And that’s yet another way to invite pride to plow right through the middle of your soul.
Today’s question: How has the pervasive nature of pride disguised itself in your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Pride leaves a trail of destruction”
