A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.
Proverbs 29:23
Pride is the great enemy of the Christian. It motivates you to do things that you know are notChristlike, and it hinders you from doing what brings glory to God.Pride influenced Adam and Eve to try to become like God (Gen. 3:5).Pride motivated Cain to murder his brother (Gen. 4:5). Pride provokedJoseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery (Gen. 37:8). Pride causedKing Saul to resent David so deeply that he even tried to murder him(1 Sam. 18:8). Pride led King Hezekiah to foolishly reveal hisnation’s wealth to his enemies (Isa. 39:2). Pride was at the root of the Pharisees’ anger toward Jesus.
Pride was the reason the disciplesargued over rank in the kingdom (Luke 9:46). If you succumb to itsinfluence, there will be consequences. You may know that you haveoffended someone, but pride holds you back from asking forgiveness.You may realize you need to reconcile a broken relationship, but pridewill lead you to deny that need. The Spirit may convict you that youare living a sinful lifestyle, but pride will discourage youradmitting it. Pride will convince you that you deserve bettertreatment. Pride will impede your serving others. Instead, pride willhave you striving for places of prominence. Pride will have you listento flatterers and ignore honest counselors. Pride will lead you toisolate yourself so that you are not accountable to others. Humility,on the other hand, is pleasing to God and places your life in aposition where God will honor you. If pride has crept into some areasof your life, ask God to give you victory over it before it robs youof God’s will for you.
