We take pride in birth and rank, but it was said of Jesus, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" We take pride in possessions, but Jesus said, "The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
We take pride in our respectability, but it was said of Jesus, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
We take pride in our personal appearance, but it was said of Jesus, "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him."
We take pride in our reputation, but it was said of Jesus, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard."
We take pride in our friendships, but it was said of Jesus, "He was a friend of tax collectors and sinners."
We take pride in our independence, but Jesus gave himself to people, and asked the woman at the well to draw water for him.
We take pride in our degrees and learning, but it was said of Jesus, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?"
We take pride in our position, but Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves."
We take pride in our success, but it was said of Jesus, "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him," and "He was despised and rejected by men."
We take pride in our self-reliance, but it was said of Jesus, "He went down to Nazareth and was submissive to his parents."
We take pride in our abilities, but Jesus said, "I can do nothing on my own."
We take pride in our self will, but Jesus said, "I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me," and "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
We take pride in our intellect, but Jesus said, "I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me."
We take pride in our resentment and justifiable pride, but Jesus said, "Father, forgive them."
We take pride in our holiness, but it was said of Jesus, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
We take pride in the fact we are the righteousness of God, but it was said of Jesus, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
[This article has been around some time, and is of unknown origin. The painting is of Christ reading the Scriptures with his mother, by Henry Ossawa Tanner, ca. 1911]
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