It's Personal: Why Pride Keeps Us From Being Close to God

God has lots of feeling about us. He cares about us. He loves us. Yet our pride often blinds us to his love. When we are proud, we forget that God has personal feelings about us, and we lose our personal feelings about God.

Recently, a boy with leukemia cancer had a big wish… to be Batman and save the day. Make-a-Wish Foundation asked the city of San Francisco to open its doors and help them make that dream come true. The turnout was incredible, and thousands of volunteers came together to watch Batkid save the city.

Interestingly, when the same organization appeals for funds for a general cause, the same doors do not open and the same number of volunteers don’t turn out. What do we learn? People are moved when the message is personal. An appeal means something more to us when it’s about a real person.

When God is personal to us, that is when we are motivated.

Understanding Pride

[1] Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. [2] The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” [3] Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. [4] Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” [5] And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. [6] And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.

Mark 6:1-6 (NLT)

Who in my life am I taking for granted?

We can take our spouse for granted. After we get familiar with one another, we start to forget to show awe and respect for one another’s talents, strengths, and perspectives.

And when we lose respect, we lose the relationship.

Where is my unbelief leading me?

Understanding Pride: No Trust

[6] When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. [7] With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!”

Mark 5:6-7 (NLT)

Sometimes, we tell God: Why are you interfering? What about my plans?

We think God is messing things up.
We get defensive.
We push God and others away.

We have to learn to get our trust back.

The challenge that we have as people is that we don’t always see the trust part.
The need for interdependence.
The need for relationships.

Overcoming Pride: Being Vulnerable

[36] One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. [37] When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. [38] Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. [44] Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. [46] You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. [47] “I tell you, her sins-and they are many-have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” [48] Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 7:36-38,44-48 (NLT)

She approached Jesus without words.
Jesus noticed her vulnerability and not her sin.

Ever feel liked you’ve reached a new low?
How easily does vulnerability come for you?

Approach friends with vulnerability by being honest, apologizing, asking for help.

Approach God with humility by looking to the Bible for comfort, praying what’s on your heart, asking God for real answers to real issues.