The trap of Pride
I believe that the lord is trying to teach me once again about the subject of choosing to walk humbly with him, choosing to serve rather than be served. Not thinking of myself to highly but with sober judgment, realizing that I too can and do make the mistakes that I see others around me make all of the time.
I have recently been reading in the book of Galatians and this truth was made evident to me once again.
Galatians 5:26
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 6:3 – 5
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
The lord it seems when he is trying to get a point a cross to me, will often show me a glaring example.
It all started out innocently enough, a man telling a story about work mates, and the struggles that they were having in fixing things, but then the conversation turned from the struggles to how stupid they were for not being able to fix the problem. Now, in essence I suppose that there is nothing wrong with expressing feelings of frustrations at another’s in ability to perform a task, but it turned into a prideful attitude as soon as it came out that the man managed to fix his workmates problems, without having had any training in that area before.
The whole conversation went something like this, I am better, because they had spent hours trying to figure something out, and I fixed it in 5 minutes.
As I listened to this conversation I realized that the lord had been teaching me about conceit, just a few minutes earlier in his word, (conceited – having an excessively favorable opinion of one’s abilities) and it struck me that here was a live example in front of my eyes.
Now the temptation was to think, ha, see this man was thinking of himself more highly than he should, as I do not believe that he realized that the wisdom that he had to fix the problem had come from God and not his own abilities.
Then the lord reminded me, not to fall into the trap myself, thinking of myself better than him, because I knew better, than to sit there and bad mouth someone, because of their inability to do something, all in an attempt to make me feel better about myself.
The truth is, the lord has been trying to teach me where my strength and abilities come from, they come from him. When I am willing to walk humbly with him and ask him for the wisdom and direction that I need for my life, I can trust him to show me how to do things, what to say and how to truly show his love and grace to all those around me.
I then have the privilege of giving God the Glory for what he is doing in and through me instead of me taking it all and not giving Him thanks for what he enabled me to do through his spirit.
I will pray for that man, that he too would come to realize that all of his abilities come from the lord, as well as that he will learn to walk humbly with the lord.
My friend, pride is deadly and it so easily convinces us to elevate ourselves way out of proportion. It is not that God wants to place us in a position of groveling before him, but when pride is allowed to take up residence in our lives it quickly clouds our vision.
We know longer can see where we are wrong, as others now are in the wrong, and we come to the faulty conclusion that we can truly do all things well on our own. God wants us to understand that all of our strength, abilities, power and wisdom do indeed come from him alone. He is the one that empowers us through his Holy Spirit to do all things well.
Pride and conceit will try to trap us, so my friend if you find yourself in the position of the man in this story, there is a simple solution to the problem, Repent.
God promises us, that when we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us, 1 John 1:9 so ask him today to forgive you of any pride that might be trying to take over and ask him to for the grace to learn to walk humbly with him today. Even if you find yourself repenting multiple times in the day, it is worth it, as you give yourself over to him, to train you in righteousness.
Here are a few scriptures that reinforce the idea of how God opposes those that are proud.
Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 22:4
Humility and the fear of the lord bring wealth and honor and life.
My prayer for you today, is that the lord will lead you into his righteousness, so that you will learn to walk moment by moment in humility with him. Amen.