No matter how much chemistry you have in your marriage, and despite all of your positive history, there is one thing that, if it creeps in, will destroy ANY relationship. It's such a common aspect of our lives that sometimes slides under the rug or is unrecognizable. It takes its shape in many different forms, from contempt, to jealousy to conceit or haughtiness. These are only a few words that are enveloped in this one attitude. Today, I am talking about pride.
PRIDE.
It's a word that's thrown around rather frequently.
"I'm proud of myself "
"I take pride in my work"
But, the more dangerous kind of pride, doesn't use these words. It is evident in our thoughts and actions toward those around us. Most of us probably don't even know when we are being prideful. Ezra Taft Benson, a former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said, "The center feature of pride is enmity--enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means "hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition." It is the power by which Satan wishes to rule over us."
It is the power by which Satan wishes to rule over us.
That is a powerful statement! In essence, President Benson is saying that when we give in to pride, we are allowing the devil to rule over us. He wishes that all men would be miserable like unto himself. He knows that the best way to do this is to make us prideful.
When we are full of pride, we cannot be humble. Which in turn means that we cannot be taught. I'm sure you can remember times when you've been in an argument and you aren't willing to budge. You are stuck in your opinion and you cannot see the other person's point of view because we are not humble enough to learn.
Pride makes us blind to our own weaknesses and pits us against others for theirs. It keeps us from seeing the truth and progressing as individuals. This progression is the entire purpose we are here on earth! We cannot progress in our relationships or as an individual when we are full of pride.
So how do we recognize it in ourselves and what can we do if we are possessed of it?
If you're thinking to yourself right now, "I'm not prideful!" Or if you are thinking of someone who you think is, then stop right there. Remember, pride makes us see each others faults and not our own. First, go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help you identify pride in yourself. Then, the next time you feel any kind of hostility toward another, remember, that is pride. This is common in relationships. We often get bothered by small things that our partners do and we think that it's their problem, instead of recognizing it as pride in ourselves. Begin by recognizing this as pride and realizing that you need to change.
You can decide to love those around you, including their weaknesses or annoyances.
I know that as we recognize pride in ourselves and pray for the Lord's helping in removing it, that we can be freed from the influence of the devil and find more happiness than we have ever experienced.
"I'm proud of myself "
"I take pride in my work"
But, the more dangerous kind of pride, doesn't use these words. It is evident in our thoughts and actions toward those around us. Most of us probably don't even know when we are being prideful. Ezra Taft Benson, a former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said, "The center feature of pride is enmity--enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means "hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition." It is the power by which Satan wishes to rule over us."
It is the power by which Satan wishes to rule over us.
That is a powerful statement! In essence, President Benson is saying that when we give in to pride, we are allowing the devil to rule over us. He wishes that all men would be miserable like unto himself. He knows that the best way to do this is to make us prideful.
When we are full of pride, we cannot be humble. Which in turn means that we cannot be taught. I'm sure you can remember times when you've been in an argument and you aren't willing to budge. You are stuck in your opinion and you cannot see the other person's point of view because we are not humble enough to learn.
Pride makes us blind to our own weaknesses and pits us against others for theirs. It keeps us from seeing the truth and progressing as individuals. This progression is the entire purpose we are here on earth! We cannot progress in our relationships or as an individual when we are full of pride.
So how do we recognize it in ourselves and what can we do if we are possessed of it?
If you're thinking to yourself right now, "I'm not prideful!" Or if you are thinking of someone who you think is, then stop right there. Remember, pride makes us see each others faults and not our own. First, go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help you identify pride in yourself. Then, the next time you feel any kind of hostility toward another, remember, that is pride. This is common in relationships. We often get bothered by small things that our partners do and we think that it's their problem, instead of recognizing it as pride in ourselves. Begin by recognizing this as pride and realizing that you need to change.
You can decide to love those around you, including their weaknesses or annoyances.
I know that as we recognize pride in ourselves and pray for the Lord's helping in removing it, that we can be freed from the influence of the devil and find more happiness than we have ever experienced.
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