Jim Ray Smith
— Pride
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord . . . Proverbs 16:5
It was during the exhibition season in the beginning of my second year with the Cleveland Browns — I was playing offensive left guard and still trying to get over that "on trial" feeling that every rookie has — when I injured my shoulder.
An alcohol rubdown, the infra-red lamp and a few hours of rest seemed to put the shoulder back in shape again. I played the first two games of the regular season with no problems. Then the shoulder started cutting up again. It was decided that two weeks of rest was in order. The first week was going along fine until I pulled a muscle at the end of the week. Then it broke loose — I was a "quitter," an "easy touch," a "softie," and a few other things that aren't mentionable. But the worst was to come. After being told off in no uncertain language, the coach ended with, "I guess we'll have to trade you or get rid of you!" This biting remark stuck in me like a knife. This was it. I was going home.
I called my wife in Dallas that night and told her I'd probably be home the next day. Then I went to my
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room and packed my bags. I felt I was through with pro football.
But before leaving, I knelt by my bed. Thoroughly discouraged and bitter, I asked God what to do. As I stayed there on my knees, it seemed that a mist suddenly lifted. I received an answer: try one more week.
Slowly I unpacked again, trying to comprehend this turnabout. Then I began to understand. No one had actually told me I was dropped from the team. I'd been chewed out just like a hundred, a thousand other men had been. I'd been ribbed and ridiculed just as almost everybody is at one time or another — and my pride had been hurt.
The next day when I showed up at the field, the man who'd read the riot act the day before apologized to me. "We've got a new deal for you, Jim," he said. "After that pulled muscle heals up, we're going to move you from left to right guard so you won't have to give that shoulder so much punishment!" I went into the next game at right guard and played the rest of the year there. I had a very good year. The following year I was moved back to left guard and I've been there ever since.
How can you protect yourself against every criticism, every unkind word, and carry your cross with Christ — both at the same time? It's impossible and the devil knows it.
Pride stands opposed to every advance in the Christian's life. Take the opening experience of conversion in which a man must admit his utter helplessness without Christ. Pride fights such a commitment. Take the act of witnessing about your new faith to others. Pride cautions against this because ridicule may result. Take the constant Christian exercise of putting others ahead of self — this is the very opposite of pride. Jesus said,
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"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." Jesus made the cross a symbol of victory, but it is a victory achieved in humiliation.
Many Christians feel that in a moment of crisis they would be willing to lay down their lives for their faith. But how many would be willing to be spat upon, laughed at, held up to public scorn, ridiculed by enemies and deserted in shame by friends? And yet, when we consider that Jesus bore all this dishonor and more in order to secure our salvation, how can we justify our pride?
The struggle against this insidious enemy never ceases. Even when good habits establish themselves and our lives are free from the more obvious sins, the devil creeps in again. "You're living a life of real humility!" he says. "Congratulations!"
And there's pride again — pride in one's humility!
We need to keep coming back to the cross again and again to make sure the humility we display to the world is genuine.
Prayer
O God, keep me so close to my crucified Lord that pride can find no place in my life. Help me this day to carry my cross as a true disciple of Jesus Christ — in spite of ridicule or humiliation. I ask it in His name. Amen.
Jim Ray Smith was an All-American football player at Baylor University and an All-Pro guard with the Dallas Cowboys. Advisory Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
