I was 26 years old and had become the pastor of a small rural church in Texas just one year prior. Now, at that time, I had already been preaching regularly for 13 years and had my bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and had just completed my master’s degree. Basically, I knew everything and was extremely aware of this fact (note sarcasm!). I mean, at that point I figured I had everything figured out for the most part and all I needed to do to gain respect was show people how much I knew. In short, I was awesome, and I was simply waiting for everyone else to come to the same realization!
That year something happened in my life I would definitely call a pivotal moment. While ministering at this small country church, I met an extremely Godly man named Don. Don and his family began visiting the church shortly after I was called there and joined soon after. Don was constantly supportive, encouraging, completely trustworthy, and always willing to be a sounding board.
For Pastor Appreciation Month that year, Don gave me a wonderful gift by taking me to a conference with him and I was overwhelmed to receive such a kind and thoughtful gift from a church member. The conference proved to be interesting and enlightening but the lunch break was the highlight of the entire trip. This lunch was not a highlight because it was a particularly intriguing breakout session or a thought-provoking Q&A. In fact, the lunch consisted of sitting in a chair across from one other eating a boxed lunch in a conference room.
As we were eating, we discussed everything from family life to particular styles of music in worship services. Then the moment came when Don looked up from his meal and said, “I have been praying for a while about how and when to say this. Can I tell you something as a friend and as someone who cares about you deeply?” During that split-second, in which I must have shaken my head “Yes” since he continued with his statement, I thought, “He is probably going to tell me how much he appreciates my ministry and about why he wanted to bless me with this conference.” However, he looked me in my eye and, truly, in the most sincere, heartfelt, and loving way said, “You are an extremely arrogant and prideful man.” To be perfectly honest, this was not the first time someone had pointed out something about me they did not like but this was different. This man went out of his way to show his love, respect, and concern for me before he made his statement. I was crushed to the deepest part of my being. Even as I write this, those words still resonate deeply within and cause me a pain that is, nevertheless, beneficial for my soul.
God used that moment in my life to speak truth into my heart and I can say, without reservation, I am thankful to the Lord for the grace He showed me in that moment. That day changed the way I see myself and God has continually used it to reorient me when I am in danger of allowing pride to creep in. Extremely critical people and even open condemnation can be prevalent in life and I am not in any way encouraging a spirit of criticism that is simply intended to belittle others, instead of building them up. However, God showed His grace in bringing me a brother who, with only the purest of intentions, was willing to be obedient to the Lord and follow Paul’s admonition in Ephesians 4:15 to “…speak the truth in love.”
Pride occurs when our view of God begins to shrink, and our view of self inflates. An ever-increasing view of God and His majesty is one of the best ways to combat pride in the human heart. As we revel in God’s divine glory, our own vainglory fades into the distance because either God is going to occupy the throne in the center of my existence or I am, both cannot. John the Baptizer declared, referencing his ministry in relation to Jesus’, in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” In context, John is referring to the fact that he had come to “Prepare the way of The Lord…” (Mt. 3:3) and now that Jesus has come his ministry is no longer needed. However, John’s sentiment rings true in relation to pride in the human heart as well. To combat pride in our own hearts, as our view of God increases our view of self will consequently decrease. Our purposeful worship of God will subsequently lead to the destruction of pride in our hearts. As we seek to exalt Him in worship and the flame of pride in our own hearts is stamped out, truly, in every aspect of our lives, He will increase and we will decrease!
-by Dr. Jeremy A. Rogers
Lead Pastor, Eastwood Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Kentucky
