Pride

 

November 20, 2008, Houston, Texas, USA.

Last year in the Philippines, I took a test in the internet. It was about the 7 deadly sins. The result said that I am a less sinner than most, and that my deadly sin is pride. 

So I made a research on the word "pride", and here is what I found:  Pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

Pride is one of the so-called “seven deadly sins”.  However, nowhere in the Bible are they called deadly sins and nowhere in the scriptures are they compiled into one list. The “7 deadly sins” came from a pope named Pope Gregory I who, in 600 A.D., compiled a list of 7 biblical sins and called them deadly.  However, according to the Bible all sin is deadly, and unless we repent, we will go to hell.

Going back to the result of the test.  Pride?  Am I really proud?

Thinking deeply, I must admit, yes, that must be my number one sin. The deadly sins as what the test said are: lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, anger, envy and pride. The antidotes in parallel order are: chastity, self-control, generosity, diligence, patience, contentment and humility.

Am I really proud? Maybe so. I must have been proud that in spite of all the financial, emotional turbulence that happened in my family, still I was able to eventually save myself and my family from disaster. My very close friends even told me that they really think that I am strong, having survived those very painful, troubled years.

Strong?  Am I strong? Definitely not. When I think of all the turbulent years that my family and I had gone through, I remember myself breaking down, crying out my heart, crying out to God. Yes, crying out to God. Yes, I CRIED OUT TO GOD. I cried, “GOD, PLEASE HELP! HIRAP NA HIRAP NA AKO!!! I even thought of dying, so that I could rest. But how about my children? They were still young. They were still going to school.

At the time that I thought it was the end, God rescued me from my misery. No, my dear friends, I was not strong. It is my God who is strong and helped me in every area of my life. God is so good, He rescued us. He restored to us what we lost, and gave us more than what we had before the problems happened. PRAISE GOD!!!

Going back to the subject of pride. Years after God rescued my family, I became complacent. Life was smooth sailing. We went back to our own house, my daughters were in college, then graduated, and my job was a blessing. God brought to my life people who became channels of God’s blessings. I know everything that I am now enjoying is because of God’s blessings. Just the realization of that should make me humble. It should make me thankful because it was God who made that happen. Thank you dear God, and please forgive me for the times that I felt prideful.  You oppose the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Help me to be grounded. I know that without you, I am nothing.  Please forgive me.

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  (Psalm 103:1-5)