Scripture is so clear—God hates pride! In fact, I read a couple of times this past week where He actually opposes the proud!!! (James 4:6, I Peter 5:5)
Yet EVERY leader I know wrestle with pride! It’s tempting…it’s intoxicating…and it’s sinful. What is P-R-I-D-E?
P = Personalized
When a leader runs every decision through the grid of, “How will this impact me,” rather than, “how will this impact the Kingdom”—pride is often rearing its ugly head.
Pride always whispers to the leader, “It’s all about you…and if this doesn’t suit your personal preferences OR isn’t really convenient for you…then don’t!”
R = Reconsideration
Pride will NOT allow us to reconsider a previous bad decision because we fear losing face with the people we lead…not understanding that following through on that bad decision will damage our leadership integrity WAY more than admitting a mistake.
IN FACT, admitting a mistake actually gives us credibility as a leader…more often than not! If there is a bad decision…and you know it—change it…everyone will be thankful!
I = Individual
Pride tells the leader, “YOU make the call…and if no one around you agrees with you…screw them and their ideas!”
I believe in point leadership. I believe that God has called the pastor to lead…to be the decision maker. However…in my opinion, that ONLY works if he is mutually submissive to the people he leads with.
For example…if I had something I thought needed to be done…and I honestly thought it was from God—and so I took it to our senior management team and shared it with them…and all of them pushed back…I would not say, “Forget you guys…I’m the leader!!!”
I would listen…take notes…absorb every word they say…and then prayerfully reconsider. Doing this has allowed me to escape MANY mistakes! The best leadership resource many of us have are the people around us!!!
D = Deceptive
Pride is SO easy to see in others…and almost impossible to see in ourselves!
There is a fine line between being prideful and being confident. Some people are confident and are mistaken as prideful…and others are prideful and mistaken as confident. The only people that truly know are the leader and Jesus!!!
We can be confident leaders without being prideful…we KNOW pride is leaking in when we begin to think, “I don’t need these people…I can run this show…if something is going to be done right around here then I am going to have to do it!”
E = Everything
Pride IMPACTS everything! When a leader will not confess and repent of pride…every single area of the church (or the area he leads) will be tainted! We can’t maintain a posture of pride and receive the blessings and favor of God at the same time.
One of the most dangerous things God can bless a church or leader with is success! When great things happen we need to simply…
- Remember where He found us!
- Thank Him for His faithfulness
- Understand He doesn’t need us…but because of HIS mercy He uses us anyway!