Philippians 2:3—Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
The surest test to determine if I struggle with pride is to gauge the acidity of my thoughts toward other people. I confess I have a long way to go and were it not for Jesus I would never make it. Just the other night, three people were insensitive to the needs of a group I was leading. Rather than address the offenders firmly with love, I found my thoughts ripping the leader of the three for her immaturity and spoiled manner.
It is easier to be critical than to be patient. It is easier to cut apart than to edify those who annoy. It is easier to judge than forgive. It is easier to water the critical vine with its "superior" vicious thorns than to yank out the roots of this bitter-tasting plant. If I harvest its fruit, I will damage my communion with God, my commitment to others and my own contentment. The Holy Spirit can eliminate this weed if I will obey God's Word which says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."--Philippians 4:8
Inspiration
Criticism makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. It is impossible to develop the characteristics of a saint and maintain a critical attitude.—Oswald Chambers in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
