A Forerunner of Failure

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 13, 1909

A Forerunner of Failure

THE Bible has much to say of pride and of those who are proud, but in no instance does it speak approvingly of that attribute. Some persons pride themselves in having pride; others pride themselves in the profession of humility. Both classes are on dangerous ground. Says the psalmist: “The proud he knoweth afar off.” We have this further striking statement: “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah.” Prov. 16: 5. If we have accepted the call of God to labor in his vineyard, and are still harboring pride, we may know for a certainty that our work will not be fruitful for God. We are foredoomed to failure as ministers of the Most High so long as pride is one of the constituencies of our make-up. The Sunday School Times has an excellent comment upon this idea:—

To be proud is the surest way of getting the universe down on us. No one likes the proud man, and no one proposes to humor him,—not even God. The Bible is quite explicit on this. “Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” Modesty wins co-operation on every side, from God and from men. If we have been priding ourselves on our pride, it is time to stop. Perhaps a frank recognition of this will explain why it has not always been easy for us to win the co-operation of others.

Nebuchadnezzar learned the lesson that “those that walk in pride He is able to abase” (Dan. 4:37); and the wise man writes: “A man’s pride shall bring him low; but he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honor.” Prov. 29: 23. Let every soul who aspires to be a successful laborer for God take to heart this earnest admonition of the Word: “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6: 8.