The problem with pride isn't so much the overflowing of vanity as it is the creeping departure for the need of God.
The prophet Obadiah spoke:
"The pride of your heart has deceived you ... you say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' Though you ascend high like the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, I will bring you down from there, says the Lord" (Obad. 1:3-4).
My momma said that to me a few times, "You aren't too big for me to take you down!" She said it in a way that made me shiver.
Most leaders are well aware that "pride goes before destruction," so why do so many leaders battle with the sin of pride? Perhaps, as with most sin that easily besets us, we simply slip into believing that we are something special. We drift away from dependence on God while we increase self-trust.
We become the center of our own universe. We stop dying to self. We stop listening to others. We become uncorrectable.
One telltale sign that marks the abundance of unhealthy ego is how we treat others. "Me, myself and I simply do not have time for you." When inward focus grows, outward attention on others is certain to decline.
"When you thus sin against the brothers, wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ" (1 Cor. 8:12).
Leaders with overflowing pride are usually unaware of the "wounds" they inflict upon those around them. Their pride helps them to believe they couldn't possibly have done anything wrong.
Obadiah also speaks "... on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and it shall be holy" (Obad. 1:17).
Leaders take note of how you treat people.
Your pride may be hiding your pride.
"The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek God; God is not in all his thoughts. ... The desire of the humble You have heard, O Lord; You make their heart attentive" (Ps. 10:4, 17).
Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.
Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.
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