ON CHRISTIANITY

DEAR REV. GRAHAM: Is it wrong to be proud of your accomplishments? I’ve been very successful in my business and I admit I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, but I’ve also heard that it’s wrong to be proud. Is this true?

— T. McD. DEAR T. McD.: It’s not necessarily wrong to take pride in our work. If we don’t, our work will probably end up sloppy or incomplete. Paul urged his young companion Timothy to be “a worker who does not need to be ashamed” ( 2 Timothy 2: 15).

But the Bible warns us against a self- centered, egotistical pride that says, “Look at me; look at what I’ve accomplished!” Why is this wrong? Because it makes us think we are better than other people, and this cuts us off from them and makes us insensitive to their needs. We may even take advantage of them and use them for our selfish benefit. The Bible rightly says, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart … produce sin” ( Proverbs 21: 4).

But this kind of pride is wrong for a far more serious reason: it cuts us off from God. God gave us our gifts and our abilities. He also gave us the opportunity to use them. But when we take credit for what we’ve achieved, we cut God out of the picture. As the Bible says, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God” ( Psalm 10: 4).

Don’t let this happen to you. Turn to Christ and humble yourself before Him. He left Heaven’s glory and came to earth for one reason: to give His life for your salvation. Don’t let pride, or anything else, keep you from Jesus Christ, but repent of your sins and commit your life to Him today.