Holy Club 27

Am I proud?

There is a good sort of pride. Pride in a job well done - particularly one that stretched us because we didn't think we could do it.

Often the Bible is negative about being proud. It suggests a hanging on to status. A way of making ourselves seem better than those around us.

Whenever I feel myself thinking 'Don't you know who I am?' I hear a warning bell ringing. The wrong sort of pride is about to surface.

Another unhelpful form of pride is when we imply to those we love that we'll be proud of them when they reach a particular target, earn a particular salary, master a particular skill. It's so easy to put that pressure on those closest to us - especially our children. It's hard to say "i'm proud of you because of who you are', rather than 'I'm proud of you because of what you've done' (or worse - 'I'm not proud of you because you didn't . . .').

One of the standout things about Jesus' earthly life is that he continually associated with people he shouldn't. He didn't look down on people, he came alongside with love and healing. He touched the leper, ate with the tax-collectors, allowed women with dubious reputations to anoint him, talked with samaritans (and praised them).

Getting alongside people who are avoided by polite society seems to be an essential mark of Christian discipleship. The Holy Club did this most clearly in their prison visiting.

Nowadays we can easily make a gift of money to a charity working with the poor and marginalised. It's much harder to sit down with them and share in their lives.

Bible passage to meditate on: Matthew 25:31-45