The Peril of Pride

Joshua 23

            As Joshua comes to the end of his life, he makes one last appeal to the people of Israel to remain faithful to the Lord. After reading Deuteronomy, there is little here that we haven’t read before. However, verses 9-10 stand out to me this morning. In verse 9-10, Joshua reminds the people that the Lord has driven out the nations, that it is the Lord who has given them such success, and that they need to be “very careful to love the Lord.”

            I’m struck by peril of pride. Imagine how easy it would be for the Israelites to start taking some credit for their success, how easy it would be to start imagining that they are the real deal, that they’re great warriors. I know the peril personally. As a pastor, I know that everything comes down to the Word of God. The Word is the sharp, two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12); the Word give life (John 6:63). Yet, when a particular sermon hits well, it’s easy to think, “I’m a pretty good preacher! Look at me!”

            And, to be sure, the Lord blesses us each in different ways and uses those gifts He has given for His purposes. I may, in fact, be a more gifted preacher than some others. But, even then, the Lord has given the gifts and because the power is in the Word a less gifted preacher has the same—sometimes better—results—because the are not the preacher’s results.

            I’m guessing not a lot of preachers read this blog, and I only use myself as an example. Maybe a broader example is in order. If we ever start taking pride in our own holiness, a sort of look-how-good-I-am attitude, it’s the same thing. The Holy Spirit brings us to faith; the Holy Spirit produces in us every good work. As Paul says, boasting is excluded (Romans 3:27; Ephesian 2:9), and if we boast at all, we boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).

            Boasting in ourselves is the first idolatry. Instead we are called to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).