The Greatest Sin of All

“Pride is a vice, which cleaves so fast unto the heart of men, that if we were to strip ourselves off all faults, one by one, we should undoubtedly find it the very last and hardest to put off.”  Thomas Hooker

  Today is Palm Sunday. It’s the ticker tape parade of the New Testament. It’s the victory march. It’s recorded in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and is referred to as the “Triumphal Entry.”

  As I was contemplating all of this, one amazing fact stands out to me. Though thousands were there to welcome Him, though Jesus was being acclaimed as the King of the Jews, though His way was paved with His followers garments and layers of palm leaves (hence the expression “Palm Sunday”), yet in spite of all of this Jesus did not give in to the one sin that torpedoes all of us over and over and over again – PRIDE. That to me is astounding. But catapult that event 2,000 years. Can you imagine a sports hero or elected official being welcomed by a ticker tape parade like a conquering hero and yet not succumbing to pride? Can you imagine them not thinking about how great, talented, attractive or wonderful they are? Yet, our Lord, though He’s worthy of our praise and worship never once succumbed to pride. That’s amazing!

  If you listed out what you think are the vilest and most hideous sins, would pride even make your list? Yet, pride is the seed for every other sin. Someone wisely said, “There are only two safe places for a Christian—in the dust and in heaven. And of the two the dust is safer, for Satan fell from heaven.” Pride is the very first sin in all of God’s creation. It destroyed the perfect beauty of heaven and quickly invaded earth. It is truly the sin of Satan. It was pride that brought Lucifer down and cost our first parents Paradise. It’s the first sin to enter a man’s heart and the last to leave. No sin is more offensive to God than the sin of pride. Pride has been called the “complete anti-God state of mind.”

  Pride condemns more to a Christless eternity than any other sin. We’re in the Easter Season. When I talk to someone about heaven or hell, rarely do I meet someone who has not been deceived by pride. Most think that they’ll go to heaven because they’re basically a “good” person, or they go to church, or have obeyed the Ten Commandments. The Cross of Christ nails that pernicious lie to the doors of hell. If there were any other way that we could go to heaven, if there were any other way that our sins and crimes against God could be paid for so that God could be just in forgiving us – would a loving Father sacrifice His own Son? Isn’t that the meaning behind Jesus’ prayer in the Garden, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39). It wasn’t. There was no other way. It’s Jesus only and only Jesus. The Bible teaches the exclusivity of Jesus Christ – He is the only way to heaven (John 14:6).

  Pride causes more cowardice on the part of Christians than any other sin. I like to be liked. It bothers me when people whisper about me behind my back or suggest that I’m some type of fanatic or wacko. Being caricatured with some of the “Christians” that are “so out there” weighs on me. And I find that my pride can shut my mouth and silence me faster when it comes to sharing the gospel than any other sin I deal with. While I may not be driven to be popular, I at least like to be liked…don’t you?

  Pride produces prayerlessness. Humility is detestable to the independent self-made man or woman. What’s the most difficult act for most of us? To ask someone for help, to admit that we can’t do it, that we haven’t got our act totally together. Isn’t that why we only tend to become serious about prayer when we’re desperately desperate? We pray when our marriage is falling apart or when our child is going off the deep end and nearly every other avenue has been explored. We pray when we’re sinking financially, or a loved one is facing a terminal illness. Sure, we pray at other times but let’s be honest, it’s more like a “wish list.” There is little intensity and certainly no desperation. Humility always precedes true prayer, but prayerlessness is the first sign of pride. Proud people don’t pray. Why would they? They don’t need anyone really, even God.

  Pride gives birth to conflict. It’s hard to say you’re sorry or admit that you blew it, and are wrong. Even when we do, we often fudge our admission with some type of rationalization. It’s pride that ruins relationships and massacres marriages. Pride is often at the root of church splits or church drifts, as believers just grow cold to their church family and just drift away. “Where there is strife, there is pride” (Proverbs 13:10). Just as pride erects a barrier between us and God, it builds walls between us and others. Love builds bridge; Pride erects walls. It’s pride that keeps us from apologizing when we’re wrong and causes us to defend yourself. It can cause us to look down on others and steals some of our most treasured relationships in life. “I was wrong. I’m sorry. Will you please forgive me?” are healing words that only a humble soul will use.

  Pride is horrible and perverse sin. No wonder Andrew Murray said, “Welcome everything that helps you on toward humility.” Listing the various forms of pride are nearly limitless. Arrogance and conceit are as common as the air we breathe. Pride must become a sin to be hated, a sin to be confessed, a sin to mourn over, a sin to flee, and a sin to fight against. The bottom line is that pride must die or nothing of God can live in us.

  Humility is trait that always marks God’s people even though it’s our toughest battle. Obviously, the first step toward becoming humble is realizing and confessing to God that we’re proud. Continually, we must drag our pride to the foot of the Cross. It’s only by contemplating Christ’s Cross that we can begin to defeat this heinous sin.

  And if pride is the evil of evils, then humility is the virtue of virtues. Humility is a fruit of God’s grace. It’s only as we rely on God’s grace and His Spirit that we can have victory over pride but pride dies hard. Just when you think you’ve killed it and are finally humble, it’s once again been resuscitated. Yet, it is only in humility that we can truly walk with God and have His hand of blessing on our lives. So fight and don’t quit!