Dr Paul Allen

We’re asked common questions when people find out what we do. Are you a plumber? Get ready to remotely troubleshoot a leaky faucet. A doctor? Get ready for a rundown of mysterious aches and pains. For counselors, somewhere near the top of that list is the question, “What problems do you see most?” Depression, anxiety, anger, marital conflict all make the cut, but my top answer may surprise you. It’s pride. That pride should be the chart-topper actually shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone — and least of all to Christians. Proverbs  6:16 –19 lists seven traits that God despises, and the very first — “haughty eyes” — is the proverbial way of talking about pride. Pride is a prison that perpetuates anger, hurt, and foolishness while keeping at bay the restorative effects of conviction, humility, and reconciliation (Proverbs 11:2; 29:23; Galatians 6:3; James 4:6; Revelation  3:17 –20). Later, in Proverbs  16:18 , God tells us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spir

Ed Welch is a  biblical counselor  and the author of several books including  Running Scared: Fear, Worry & the God of Rest . He serves on the faculty of the  Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation  (CCEF) in Philadelphia

Image via Wikipedia I have seen leaders get prideful, greedy, and demanding. Sadly, it has increasingly become the norm in a world that values charisma above character. To paraphrase Jim Collins in his epic book,  Good to Great , you can build an enduring organization with charisma, but it is more difficult. As I have reflected on my own experience and observing prominent leaders, I see them struggle with four temptations: The temptation of priorities.  Weak leaders put themselves last. They mistakenly think this is more spiritual. It is a dangerous temptation that has left many leaders  cynical  and burned out. But successful leaders face the opposite temptation. They put themselves first. In fact, some are outright narcissists, putting themselves at the center of their own universe. The correct position, I think, is  second . Strong leaders put God first and  themselves second . They know that they can’t meet the needs of others unless they attend to themselves. The temptat