One can hardly imagine a more difficult activity than to rebuke pride, particularly in ourselves. This is so, not because there is any lack of it in us, but because pride blinds us to its own existence. Pride blinds us to pride.

Pride is the wellspring of all other sins. It was the first sin that begat all other. Its prevalence is so endemic to the human condition, it is easy to become desensitized to its presence. But it exists every time we do or think or say anything contrary to God’s Word or omit anything expected of us by the living God. How so? Because whenever we sin in any way, whether by omission or commission, we in effect exalt our will above God’s. This is pride. Every sin is a manifestation of pride.

How do we rebuke this beast? In others, with patience, compassion, and love. Patience because we ourselves are full of it. Compassion because we know how hateful this sin is to God and how dreadful a person’s condition before Him is when caught in pride’s clutches. Love because we want to see the other person conformed to God’s image, which is the very opposite of pride.

How do we rebuke pride in ourselves? By several means.

First, we need to frequent often the cross of Jesus Christ. Why? Because that is the best place to see the true and wretched value of that which opposes God’s will. The spiritually and physically pummeled Savior died there because of our pride. A fresh, believing sight of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is a truly divine cordial against pride.

Second, we need the help of others. Having considered the blinding tendency of pride, we note that God often uses others to point out pride in us. We rebuke our pride by listening to their rebukes. The problem here, of course, is that our pride makes us resistant to receiving hearty counsel from others. And few of us have friends who love us enough to speak the truth in love when we need to hear it. So prayer is needed, in the moment, for the grace and humility to accept what others see, even if we don’t see it ourselves.

Third, we need the help of God. It is hard to maintain pride when spending considerable time with the Almighty. Prayerlessness stokes pride; prayer has a quenching tendency.

Finally, let us consider well Paul’s reminder to the Corinthians,

Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?1 Corinthians 4:7-8

Whatever our abilities, our attainments, our acquisitions – all are gifts. Paul’s motto should be our practice:

God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.Galatians 6:14

The title of this essay is “How We Rebuke Pride.” Let’s change that to “How We Mortify Pride.” We do not rebuke a venomous snake; we behead it. Pride, like a fire revived, needs to be stamped out lest we be consumed in the conflagration. Hasten the day, Lord, when pride will be extinguished once and forever!