February 22nd, 2026
Sunday, February 22
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God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world – indeed, the things that are nothing – to bring to nothing the things the world considers something, so that no human being might be proud in themselves before God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made to be our wisdom, our righteousness, and our sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
~ 1 Corinthians 1:27-31
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God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world – indeed, the things that are nothing – to bring to nothing the things the world considers something, so that no human being might be proud in themselves before God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made to be our wisdom, our righteousness, and our sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
~ 1 Corinthians 1:27-31
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Pride is often referred to as the cardinal sin. Pride is nothing less than the desire to be more than we are. Thomas Aquinas called pride “the appetite for greatness in excess of right reason.” According to Augustine, pride is when our greatness becomes a goal in itself.
Pride infects all of our actions and turns what is good and beautiful into something ugly. Pride exalts ourselves above our neighbors and co-workers. Pride leads us to think of our gifts and talents as something more than another’s gifts and talents. Pride demands we get our way. It judges others on the basis of how they keep their lawn. It forgets we are all human and short-sighted – all of the time. It brings death.
The opposite of pride isn’t thinking less of ourselves; it’s thinking rightly of ourselves.
Pride forgets that we are made. We are mortal. We are finite. We are limited. We will all die and our lives forgotten. We are not God. I know, it seems over the top to point that out. But it’s not. Our pride very easily inflates to proportions way beyond what’s good for us, including behaving like we’re in charge, like we (or our family, church, town, or nation) are the best, or we have the “right” understanding of God, faith, or life. In essence, we behave like we’re God (or at least God’s favorite).
This perspective resulted in death once upon a time. It still does.
This is what Paul is getting at in 1 Corinthians. He wants to remind the prideful Corinthians that God is not giving the gifts of the Spirit because they’re impressive people, OR so that they would think of themselves as impressive.
This is why Paul points out that God works in ways that eliminate any possibility for pride. Pride brings death, and God works against death. So, Paul points out, God chooses to work through all of the people and ways that have no leverage for pride: the foolish, the weak, the low and despised.
Even as Christians, it’s easy to sneak human pride in the back door. We still insist on looking strong, making noise about our gifts and talents, being center stage, or having attractive church programs and services. We have a problem, it seems, with wanting to be noticed, as if God depends on how “impressive” we look according to the world’s expectations. And, as Jesus says in Matthew 6 – yes, you’ll get noticed. Because it fuels our pride. And, as Jesus says, getting noticed will be your reward. Good job.
Could it be that only when we die to our pride we’ll actually experience the Spirit?
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Pride infects all of our actions and turns what is good and beautiful into something ugly. Pride exalts ourselves above our neighbors and co-workers. Pride leads us to think of our gifts and talents as something more than another’s gifts and talents. Pride demands we get our way. It judges others on the basis of how they keep their lawn. It forgets we are all human and short-sighted – all of the time. It brings death.
The opposite of pride isn’t thinking less of ourselves; it’s thinking rightly of ourselves.
Pride forgets that we are made. We are mortal. We are finite. We are limited. We will all die and our lives forgotten. We are not God. I know, it seems over the top to point that out. But it’s not. Our pride very easily inflates to proportions way beyond what’s good for us, including behaving like we’re in charge, like we (or our family, church, town, or nation) are the best, or we have the “right” understanding of God, faith, or life. In essence, we behave like we’re God (or at least God’s favorite).
This perspective resulted in death once upon a time. It still does.
This is what Paul is getting at in 1 Corinthians. He wants to remind the prideful Corinthians that God is not giving the gifts of the Spirit because they’re impressive people, OR so that they would think of themselves as impressive.
This is why Paul points out that God works in ways that eliminate any possibility for pride. Pride brings death, and God works against death. So, Paul points out, God chooses to work through all of the people and ways that have no leverage for pride: the foolish, the weak, the low and despised.
Even as Christians, it’s easy to sneak human pride in the back door. We still insist on looking strong, making noise about our gifts and talents, being center stage, or having attractive church programs and services. We have a problem, it seems, with wanting to be noticed, as if God depends on how “impressive” we look according to the world’s expectations. And, as Jesus says in Matthew 6 – yes, you’ll get noticed. Because it fuels our pride. And, as Jesus says, getting noticed will be your reward. Good job.
Could it be that only when we die to our pride we’ll actually experience the Spirit?
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For reflection:
Prayer:
God of hope, you sent Jesus in humility and lowliness to show us the way of life. By your Spirit shape us to the way of Jesus, so that our lives do not seek pride, but so that we find joy in humility and lowliness. Amen.
- Read 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 6:1-13. Where is pride alive and at work in your deepest self? How does it sneak into what you do and why and how you do it?
- Where in our culture does pride influence us?
- For those with kids: Ask about when someone else acted like they were better or more important than them. How did it make them feel? Talk about how this can cause problems, and it’s really not a way of thinking that God wants us to have. Maybe talk about the things they might NOT appreciate about someone else that God made in his image if we are prideful.
Prayer:
God of hope, you sent Jesus in humility and lowliness to show us the way of life. By your Spirit shape us to the way of Jesus, so that our lives do not seek pride, but so that we find joy in humility and lowliness. Amen.
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