The Pride of Life 1 John 2:16 - Equipped for Battle

In our last two studies, we have seen John the apostle addressing the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. Today he shares with us about the third area of temptation – The Pride of Life. Let's read together in the second chapter of First John verse sixteen once again:

For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Pride. I'm not sure that this isn't the most attractive lust of all. Most people like to be acknowledged for their accomplishments. They like to be known to be the best, the greatest, the most attractive, and the most skilled. Whether it is in sports, music, law, medicine, sales, being mommy or daddy, you name it, people like to be “puffed up.” The famous song, “My Way” uses these words “I did it my way”, and the spirit behind these lyrics is “I am proud and everyone should know it.”

The pride of life was used by the devil on Eve in the Garden:

And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise,she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:6

And on Jesus in the wilderness temptation:

Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:5-7

Eve desired to be wise, and the devil thought to tempt Jesus into having everyone notice him because of his miraculous saving by the angels. Eve succumbed to the temptation. Jesus did not. Fortunately for us Jesus passed every temptation that Satan threw at Him, and that is why Jesus is our Savior today.

There is much that could be said about the area of pride, but suffice it to say that pride was the very thing that got the devil thrown out of heaven, and he uses the attraction of pride on a regular basis to tempt all of us. (Refer to Isaiah 14:12-14 and notice all the “i” phrases that are used.)

When it comes to pride, James the apostle possibly said it best:

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10

If we will obey this directive, pride will disappear, and all acknowledgment for advancement will give God the glory and not ourselves.

Next time we shall look at the fate of the world and the fate of those who obey God. Read ahead.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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