Selfish Pride

And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs.’” 2 Chronicles 10:10

I usually think of pride as thinking more of myself than I should. This kind of pride says, I’m better than you, and it elevates self while it puts others down. It’s obvious, and it’s annoying when we see others doing it. When I read a passage about the evil of pride, I can easily think of several people who need to read it. There is, however, a more insidious kind of pride of which I am almost continually guilty. This kind of pride doesn’t boast about being better than others. Rather, with this kind of pride, I simply put my needs and wants above the needs and wants of all others. This kind of pride thinks in terms of I, me, and mine. What do I want? What do I need? How does this affect me? This is selfish pride, elevating the needs of me above all.

This was Rehoboam’s sin in today’s passage. In the story, Rehoboam, son of King Solomon, assumed the throne upon his father’s death. Jeroboam was an administrator under king Solomon and when Rehoboam took the throne, Jeroboam sought an opportunity to help his people. He went to Rehoboam, asking for a decrease in their tax burden. Rehoboam sought counsel with the elders, who wisely recommended that, for the sake of the kingdom, he lighten the financial drain on his people,. He then sought the counsel of his young peers, who encouraged him to think only in selfish terms. Tax them even more. Rehoboam had a chance to choose humility, thinking of the kingdom’s needs rather than his own but instead, he acted out of pride, putting his own wants and needs above all. In the end, this split the kingdom, with Jeroboam leading a revolt against Rehoboam’s oppressive rule.

I often view pride as thinking highly of myself – I’m amazing – and so, humility must be thinking lowly of myself – I suck. Pride though, can simply be selfishness, putting myself first. I, me, mine. Humility then, isn’t thinking less of myself, but rather, it’s simply thinking of myself less. This isn’t natural for me, but rather requires a daily, conscious effort to think of those around me, choosing to put their needs before mine. This is what real love looks like and this is what drove Christ to the cross. If I call myself a Christian, then I must try to emulate Jesus, daily choosing to put other’s needs before my own.