Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.  (II Kings 5:1)

Regardless of how high you climb, pride will keep you feeling like you are still on the ground. Pride sets an expectation for one’s self that can never be fulfilled through the means by which it is pursued. 

Naaman was a great and gifted man. He had a resume' that would rival any. He was Captain of the Syrian army, a man of courage, great and honorable, and very accomplished, having led Syria to victory in warfare. Yet, amid all of his accolades, there is one major scourge. He bore this horrible disease, Leperosy. This condition was signified by a state of bodily decay, ending in death. 

This disease is emblematic of pride. Pride is a deadly condition.  One is always better than, or always deserves more, or one is always above this or  always have a right to that. God simply will not bless the proud; and moreover the proud cannot receive the blessing anyway.  Jesus put it plainly “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

This is not our common use of the term “proud,” as in “I’m proud of my child,” or “I’m proud of the work that I’ve done.” That is a different definition. That is an expression of being “pleased” or “satisfied”. The sinful pride of the Bible which God hates is anything but truly at peace. It’s always seeking more POWER, more POSITION, and more PRAISE. It is motivated by anything that it does not control or possess. This “pride” is self-seeking, self-serving, and self-aggrandizing. It is a glory-seeking disposition of the heart. 

The insidious secret of pride, is that it really is a self-loathing attitude masquerading as self-loving. Pride really hates self for who you are… or who you are not… or what you cannot achieve…  Cain is a glaring example of pride. Though he expressed it by killing Abel, his brother, he was really dissatisfied with himself and moreover angry with God.

Naaman’s pride was a hinderance to him hearing the word of God, being healed from his disease,  and beholding the true and living God for himself. Only in humility did he come to the point enjoying being the man God had created him to be. Naaman had a need that neither his name, his abilities, nor his status could provide. The truth is no matter how vigorously one lives, pride will not let you escape death’s grip. 

Yuri Solomon holds degrees from Gospel Ministry Outreach Theological Institute and the College of Biblical Studies. He is author of the book Biblical Masculinity. More info @ www.wordtalkonline.org