PRIDE OF LIFE

God created the earth and we, as humans created the world (and its systems). As such, there are things that do not have their source from God; “for everything in the world - lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16). I would like to elaborate on ‘the pride of life’ in few minutes

The pride of life is one’s boastfulness (excessive pride) of his/her obvious life achievements. In simple terms, people with the pride of life are those who have chalked obvious success at a point in their lives, and then these achievements become hinges upon which they swing to and fro. Everything about them is centred on what they have achieved; they begin to believe that their identity depends on their achievements. Such people have not found their own selves.

Superior Conquerors   

Nebuchadnezzar, was undoubtedly a great Babylonian king. This reputation was earned by his great charisma and battle conquests. He was so boastful of his obvious achievements to the extent that he built a monument of himself and ordered his nation to worship it. If anyone boasts like this without any achievements, he/she is just an arrogant liar. That’s not who we are talking about here. People with pride of life actually have achievements they can talk about.  

Goliath was indeed a very great warrior for the Philistines. His height, amour and coat of mail alone were unmatched for any other warrior. I gave a vivid description of his achievement in my “Danger of Experience article read here. However, in the end, both conquerors, had to face one down fall or the other because of their excessive boasting about their experiences and achievements - their pride of life.

Speech of a god

There is another strange thing about pride of life. This is when you accept other people’s glory and adoration of you because of what you do, without giving God the glory. In that way you admit it and believe their praise is a reflection of your true self. Paul said we must honor God with (anything we do with) our body (1 Corinthians 6:20). Herod, in Acts 12:21-22 gave a great speech which made the people believe he was a god. The resultant effect was that, he was struck down by an angel, worms ate him, and he died; because he didn’t ascribe the ‘god’ identity to the supreme God. He was in the pride of his life.

I didn’t write this to discourage the quest for achievements. I also love achievements - I have mine. I only write to caution you that your achievements are unto the glory of God. Never attach your worth or relevance to your achievements. Otherwise you are creating a false identity for yourself; you are worshiping the pride of your life. That identity passes away like wind, and you’ll soon see how destructed your life will become. “For the world and its desires passes away, but who ever does the will of God lives forever (1John 2:17). Achievements are good, however, they are not your identity - let your identity in God live forever!   

May the Lord mend our nets!