Pride is often considered the foremost vice among Christians, since it is contrary to the love of God. As Christian thinker and writer C.S. Lewis stated... "According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind."
Christianity teaches that there are many different manifestations of pride. They include "boasting of men (1 Corinthians 3:21)," doing something "from selfishness or conceit (Philippians 2:3)," and refusing to "be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21)."
God clearly commands Christians to be humble, not proud and boastful.
Sometimes, we Christians may be tempted to self-righteously look down on unbelievers who lead immoral lives, and even other believers whom we deem “less worthy” but we need to remember that we are saved by grace, not by any good thing we do, and all our blessings come from God, because of His mercy, and love for us.
Every time a Christian is proud of himself or boastful about something he has done, he is sinning and breaking a command of God. We are told to be humble instead. Pride and boasting can be problems for Christians and non-christians alike. The Bible warns people about being proud and boastful.
Jesus taught a powerful and valuable lesson, we should all remember, on the last night of his life and ministry, before his destiny with the cross. He taught the lesson to one of his own... Peter. The lesson is recorded in the gospel of John and several questions emerge as we read this passage at John 21:15-17...
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
There are several things in this passage we do not often consider. For example... Why did Jesus ask Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Maybe it was because Peter denied him three times, although at this encounter, the last supper, Peter has yet to be confronted with his denials of Jesus.
Why did he make his point publicly? Because Peter denied him publicly. Maybe the other disciples needed to hear Peter openly declare his love for Christ. Without hearing those words, the doubts would linger forever.
The man who had been so boastful, so sure of himself, so confident of his own courage, is now thoroughly humbled by such a simple question. Jesus’ first question – “Do you love me more than these?” (v. 15) – was a subtle reminder of his previous boast to be more loyal than the other disciples (Matthew 26:33). In his reply Peter declares his love for Christ, but he refuses to compare himself with anyone else. As painful as this question was framed by Jesus, it was absolutely necessary to make his point, not only with Peter but all the disciples. It’s as if Jesus is cleaning an open wound so that it might properly heal. He is getting rid of Peter’s guilt and shame by dealing with it openly.
Consider what Christ doesn’t do. He doesn’t try to make Peter feel guilty. He doesn’t humiliate him publicly. He doesn’t ask him, “Are you sorry for what you did?” He doesn’t make him promise to do better. He just asks one question: “Do you love me?”
Once we have hurt someone we love, it is hard to look them in the face and it is harder still to be questioned about our true commitment. “How could you have done that? What were you thinking? Do you even love me at all?” But the questions must be asked and the answers must be given. And they must be repeated if the truth is to be fully told and understood by all parties.
If you think about what Jesus accomplishes in asking that simple question, he is setting the stage, the criteria for emotional and spiritual growth that enables everyone who professes Christ to really be engaged with Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. There are three qualifications for those who would serve the Lord... The first is love. The second is love. The third is love. Anything else needed? Nope.
And, it works out in our lives like this... First we love, then serve. First we love, then speak. First we love, then lead.
When Christ asks the question the third time, Peter’s heart is grieved and he blurts out, “Lord, you know all things” (v. 17). With those words Peter renounces all his self-confidence. He is saying that he cannot do anything with love for Christ.
On that fateful night in the Upper Room, he thought he knew himself, but he really didn’t. Now he’s not so sure of anything. He doesn’t even trust his own heart; instead he trusts in the Lord who knows all things, especially his heart. This is a mighty step forward in Christian growth. It is a great advance to come to the place where you can say with conviction, “My trust is in the Lord alone.” Sometimes we have to hit bottom and hit it hard before we can say those words.
No doubt Peter loved Jesus more after his fall, his denials, than before. No one loves like the one who has experienced God’s grace firsthand.
I love you, Lord Jesus, but not as I ought. Purge from my heart all pride and grant me a good memory of my past so that I might love you more when I remember how much you have loved me and forgiven all my sins. Amen.
