Pride & Unity

Most of us have likely heard the phrase "Pride comes before the fall". It is a proverb that has been with us for thousands of years, and yet its meaning doesn't always sink in.

Pride comes in many shapes fashions and kinds. It is not easy to recognize in oneself either, unless you know where to look - and more importantly, if you 'want' to look.

One key sign of pride is disunity. Whenever we see a gap, either forming or formed, we can be sure pride is present.

Gaps may be found in relationships, the workplace, on the road, or in the way we view our God and country.

Today, all around us we see the statistics on divorce, drug use, abortion and other harmful things and the percentages continue to grow. Looking around, we also see how our society is becoming a serve your self style society, with a sense of immediacy associated with everything from church, clothing or what it demands from its country. What drives this?

The answer is 'self'. It is our inner demand to get what we want and get it now. This may have been reciprocated to us or perhaps it was a learned behavior, but the evidence is clear, the more we get, the less unity we have. When we serve ourselves first, regardless of the consequences, the outcome is separation, which eventually leads to loss.

For example, if a Dad always serves himself first, the act will likely manifest itself in the family, in similar fashion later in life. Equally, when a family no longer stands for the moral and ethical values of the country they live in, the same will occur, eventually leading to losses. Perhaps the loss is freedom, choice or even our lives.

Today, let us be encouraged to look into our own lives for areas of pride. Let us then work to expose it for what it truly is - our inner desire to please self first. When we do this, we will see that there is greater union in all of the things that matter.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3