It is a potential sin of all who lead and it is fed by
success, knowledge and the power inherent in leadership. It is arrogance:
hubris or pride – an inflated view of our own self importance.
As a reader of history I have run across any number of
individuals who suffered from this deficiency. George Patton wrote this in his
diary in the Second World War: “When I think of the greatness of my job and
realize that I am what I am, I am amazed, but on reflection, who is as good as
I am? I know of no one!” And then there was Winston Churchill who said that
history would be kind to him because he would write it.
God has a lot to say about arrogance including this nugget
in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 regarding Saul:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as
much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and
to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of
divination, and arrogance like the evil
of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has
rejected you as king.”
Why is arrogance so distasteful to God? Certainly because
humility is what he looks for in leaders since humble leaders are teachable and
able to follow while arrogant leaders do not have either ability. Arrogant
individuals have an inflated view of their own importance and thus listen less,
feel entitled to special treatment, demean those around them in attitude or words
and essentially raise themselves by putting down others. If not checked,
arrogance can become narcissism and that is where King Saul found himself.
How do we protect ourselves against arrogance? One of the
ways I do so is to lead through team which does not limit my influence but it
does my power as that power is an intentionally shared power.
In addition, being aware that privilege brings with it the
temptation to inflate my own importance, I seek to keep a sense of who I am and
my own vulnerabilities. The more I know the “full me” including my shadow side,
the less likely I am to think I am any different from others (I am not).
Arrogant individuals are able to overlook the areas of their lives that are
problematic or excuse them away. When we do that we run the risk of losing our
perspective on whom we really are.
Finally, the more we serve others the less likely we will be
to develop arrogance. Serving others is the posture of a good leader and of
Jesus. Service develops humility as we identify with our staff rather than see
ourselves above them. Humility before God and men keeps us from the sin of
arrogance.
1 comment:
The hard part about pride is that it can be very deceptive. False humility is pride wearing a mask. How often do we run into people who simply have it too figured out to listen to the simple words God might give us for them? Words of hope, love and encouragement. I'm not even talking about things that might be considered a rebuke. So often we simply won't let God use others to touch our lives.
And of course lets admit we all struggle with pride, false humility, insecurity, an outsized opinion of our own accomplishments.
Paul said, "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." - 1 Corinthians 4:5
Pride deeply effects our motives. But I can't hope to police the motives of others. I do know that real believers consider their actions circumspectly in hopes of having pure motives and good intentions. They rely on God's Spirit to guide their inner life as well as their outer life. And He is a faithful guide to those who submit to His leadership.
A burgeoning type of false humility in the churches is that of being a Bible expert but not an expert in love. We could call it the Ephesian Syndrome, losing one's first love.
Pride is so close to the root of sin that only The Lord can put it in a bottle and contain it.
May His grace be abundant.
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