According to Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the church, the result was unity (see Acts 2:42-47). This is what Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, highlights: “All the believers were one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32). This is just what Jesus had prayed for about his church (John 17:20-23) and this is what the Holy Spirit creates. How is it then that the Corinthian Christians, who prided themselves in their Holy Spirit gifting, were so persistently divided? The answer, evident in this letter, is that they were divided because they prided themselves in their Holy Spirit gifting. Such pride creates a hierarchy of spiritual rank which in turn engenders competitiveness. This also meant that they respected leaders primarily in terms of personal charismatic qualities and divided behind those whom they preferred. Pride divides people because it makes us see ourselves and others in comparative terms. It highlights difference rather than commonality. We are all children of God who have all fallen far short of God’s glory and we are all under grace alike. There is no sin as demonic as pride (Ezekiel 28:14-17) and no pride as bad as spiritual pride. Use every circumstance therefore as an opportunity to kill your pride lest your pride kills you. Every interaction with other people will give you this opportunity. Every instance in which you choose to serve and prefer others is a blow to pride. Every choice to lift up another person rather than yourself makes pride crumble.
Ask God to teach you humility.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
