Pride
by Ellen White
Have we received a bright thought? If so, we are not to think that it is because of any
wonderful smartness or intelligence in ourselves. It is because God is the author of it.
If anyone tells you you have preached a good sermon, tell him the devil told you that
before he did, and for him not to be an agent for the devil. There is pride in our hearts
that must be emptied out, and then Jesus Christ will come in and take possession of our
whole heart. I love my Saviour this morning because He first loved me. If there is
anything in my life, my words, my teachings that is good, it is because Christ has put it
there. It is not because of any goodness in me, and there is no glory to be directed to
myself. 11MR 241
Many dress like the world, to have an influence. But here they make a sad and fatal
mistake. If they would have a true and saving influence, let them live out their
profession, show their faith by their righteous works, and make the distinction great
between the Christian and the world. I saw that the words, the dress, and actions should
tell for God. Then a holy influence will be shed upon all, and all will take knowledge of
them that they have been with Jesus. Unbelievers will see that the truth we profess has a
holy influence and that faith in Christ's coming affects the character of the man or
woman. If any wish to have their influence tell in favour of the truth, let them live it
out and thus imitate the humble Pattern.
I saw that God hates pride, and that all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be
stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up. I saw that the third angel's message
must yet work like leaven upon many hearts that profess to believe it, and purge away
their pride, selfishness, covetousness, and love of the world. 1T 132
We see danger in the bestowal of rich gifts or of words of commendation upon human
agencies. Those who are favoured by the Lord need to be on guard constantly, lest pride or
self-esteem obtain the supremacy. He who has an unusual following, he who has received
words of commendation from the Lord, needs the special prayers of God's faithful watchmen,
that he may be shielded from the danger of cherishing thoughts of self-esteem and
spiritual pride. Never is such a man to manifest self-importance, or attempt to act as a
dictator or a ruler. Faithfully should his brethren warn him of his dangers; for, if left
to himself, he will surely make mistakes, and reveal human frailties. 3BC 1131
Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness, all depend on our union with Christ, and
the degree of faith we exercise in him. Here is the source of our power in the world....
Your birth, your reputation, your wealth, your talents, your virtues, your piety, your
philanthropy, or anything else in you or connected with you, will not form a bond of union
between your soul and Christ. Your connection with the church, the manner in which your
brethren regard you, will be of no avail, unless you believe in Christ. It is not enough
to believe about him; you must believe in him. You must rely wholly upon his saving
grace....
[50.9]Few receive the grace of Christ with self-abasement, with a deep and permanent
sense of their unworthiness. They cannot bear the manifestations of the power of God, for
this would encourage in them self-esteem, pride, and envy. This is why the Lord can do so
little for us now. 5T 48F (1882)
I wish that every minister and every one of our workers could see this matter as it has
been presented to me. Self-esteem and self-sufficiency are killing spiritual life. Self is
lifted up; self is talked about. Oh, that self might die! "I die daily," said
the apostle Paul. When this proud, boasting self-sufficiency and this complacent
self-righteousness permeate the soul, there is no room for Jesus. He is given an inferior
place, while self swells into importance and fills the whole temple of the soul. This is
the reason why the Lord can do so little for us. Should He work with our efforts, the
instrument would appropriate all the glory to his own smartness, his wisdom, his ability,
and he would congratulate himself, as did the Pharisee: "I fast twice in the week, I
give tithes of all that I possess." When self shall be hidden in Christ, it will not
be brought to the surface so frequently. Shall we meet the mind of the Spirit of God?
Shall we dwell more upon practical godliness, and far less upon mechanical arrangements?
5T 538
Many feel that the line of work they are doing belongs solely to them and that no one
else should make any suggestions in regard to it. These very ones may be ignorant as to
the best methods of conducting the work; yet, if one ventures to offer them advice, they
are offended and become more determined to follow their independent judgement. Again, some
of the workers are not willing to help or instruct their fellow workmen. Others who are
inexperienced do not wish their ignorance to be known. They make mistakes, at a cost of
much time and material, because they are too proud to ask counsel. 7T 197
As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they
had money to use in gratifying self and provoking the envy of their neighbours. Much of
the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding
down the poor. They forgot that in heaven an account of every business transaction is
kept; every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is there recorded. The time is coming when
in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to
pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah. 9T 12
The holiness that God's word declares he must have before he can be saved, is the
result of the working of divine grace, as he bows in submission to the discipline and
restraining influences of the Spirit of truth....
The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one. Day by day
God labours for man's sanctification, and man is to co-operate with Him, putting forth
persevering efforts in the cultivation of right habits. He is to add grace to grace; and
as he thus works on the plan of addition, God works for him on the plan of multiplication.
Our Saviour is always ready to hear and answer the prayer of the contrite heart, and grace
and peace are multiplied to His faithful ones....
There are those who attempt to ascend the ladder of Christian progress; but as they
advance, they begin to put their trust in the power of man, and soon lose sight of Jesus,
the author and finisher of their faith. The result is failure-the loss of all that has
been gained. Sad indeed is the condition of those who, becoming weary of the way, allow
the enemy of souls to rob them of the Christian graces that have been developing in their
hearts and lives. AA 532
The Lord would have the teachers of our Sabbath schools examine themselves whether they
be in the love of God. There will be tests and provings of God to try the character in the
experience of all who are working in the cause of God. The teachers should be constantly
learning and striving for a more thorough understanding, a right judgement in the things
of God . There is danger of the teachers becoming self-confident, and so filled with
self-esteem that they will not realise their own deficiencies, that there is with them a
narrowness of ideas, and they do not broaden or expand. They do not become more and more
capable, but more and more self-important. They do not bring Jesus into their hearts and
into their experiences. The teacher should cultivate his powers, cultivate his speech so
as to speak distinctly, giving intelligent articulation. The mental powers should be
cultivated, not be left so weak, and the powers of thought so confused, that they cannot
explain nor understand the doctrines of our faith. If the teacher is not one of sincere
piety, of purity, of self-denial, of willingness to endure inconvenience, then he is not
fit for the great and solemn work. It is the duty of the teacher to test his own powers,
his own spirit, and understand his true position before God, by close examination. . . .
CSW 96
By their sins they had separated themselves from God, and in their pride were moving
independently of Him. They felt sufficient in themselves for all things, and realised no
need of a higher wisdom to direct their acts. But the Son of God was surrendered to the
Father's will, and dependent upon His power. So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He
made no plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day by day the Father
unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple
outworking of His will. DA 208
The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness
for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. The Lord can do nothing toward the
recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all
self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then he can receive the gift
that God is waiting to bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He
has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells. "For thus saith the high
and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy
place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."[1 ISA. 57:15.] DA 300
Many gatherings have been presented to me. I have seen the gaiety, the display in
dress, the personal adornment. All want to be thought brilliant, and give themselves up to
hilarity, foolish jesting, cheap, coarse flattery, and uproarious laughter. The eyes
sparkle, the cheek is flushed, conscience sleeps. With eating and drinking and
merry-making they do their best to forget God. The scene of pleasure is their paradise.
And Heaven is looking on, seeing and hearing all. . . . PH048 14
The man who is praised for his ability learns to lean on his own understanding, and
does not feel his need of help from above.... [H]is soul is spotted and marred by
self-exaltation.... [T]hey congratulate themselves that they have his [the Lord's]
blessing when they are walking in the sparks of their own kindling. All this labour is a
positive injury, for it blocks the way against the efficient labour of devoted men. RH MAY
20,1884
Man is privileged to connect with Christ, and then the divine and the human combine;
and in this union the hope of man must rest alone; for it is as the Spirit of God touches
the soul that the powers of the soul are quickened, and man becomes a new creature in
Christ Jesus.... He who looks to Christ in simple, childlike faith, is made a partaker of
the divine nature through the agency of the Holy Spirit. When led by the Spirit of God,
the Christian may know that he is made complete in him who is the head of all things....
When we become partakers of the divine nature, we shall look with abhorrence upon all our
exaltation of self, and that which we have cherished as wisdom, will seem as dross and
rubbish. RH NOV.22F,1892
It is in proportion as the heart is sanctified by grace, and filled with the active
love for God and for our fellow men, that we do nothing for show or by compulsion. Those
who love God do that which is pleasant for them to do, and that is to reveal God in
character, and submit the whole heart to the sanctification of the truth. RH OCT.08,1895
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God, and not of us" [verse 7]. Have we received a bright thought? If so, we
are not to think that it is because of any wonderful smartness or intelligence in
ourselves. It is because God is the Author of it. If anyone tells you you have preached a
good sermon, tell him the devil told you that before he did, and for him not to be an
agent for the devil. There is pride in our hearts that must be emptied out, and then Jesus
Christ will come in and take possession of our whole heart. SAT 099
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be
of God, and not of us [2 Cor. 4:7]. Have we received a bright thought? If so, we are not
to think that it is because of any wonderful smartness or intelligence in ourselves. It is
because God is the Author of it. If anyone tells you you have preached a good sermon, tell
him the devil told you that before he did, and for him not to be an agent for the devil.
There is pride in our hearts that must be emptied out, an then Jesus Christ will come in
and take possession of our whole heart.... If there is anything in my life, my words, my
teachings, that is good, it is because Christ has put it there. It is not because of any
goodness in me, and there is no glory to be directed to myself SAT 99
There are many whose religion consists in activities. They want to be engaged in, and
have the credit of doing, some great work, while the little graces that go to make up a
lovely Christian character are entirely overlooked. The busy, bustling service, which
gives the impression that one is doing some wonderful work, is not acceptable to God. It
is a Jehu spirit, which says, "Come, see my zeal for the Lord." It is gratifying
to self; it feeds a self-complacent feeling; but all the while the soul may be defiled
with the plague-spot of unsubdued, uncontrolled selfishness. ST NOV.20,1884
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