BEWARE OF PRIDE I – Monday November 10th 2014

BEWARE OF PRIDE I

Memorise: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Read: Isaiah 40:13-17, Bible in one year: 2^nd Kings 17:24-19:7, Proverbs 24:8-20

A person that is self-existing and is self-sufficient is the only one that has the right to be proud. There is however no single person in all of human history that is self-existing or self-sufficient. Only God, who is the creator of all things that there is – man, animals, sufficient. The Bible in 1 Timothy 6:16 says this of Him:

“Who only hath immorality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

It is therefore only God that has the exclusive right to pride. Yet, it is obvious that even God does not exhibit pride. This is shown in the regard He has even for lesser beings of His creation. Considering the infinite superiority of His being to anything or anyone else, one would expect Him to relate with us with impunity and not to be mindful of us at all (Psalm 8:4). In spite of the gab between his awesomeness and our lowly estate, God still condescend to relate with us. He shows concern for us in all our predicaments, even to the point of making the ultimate self-sacrifice. He gave His son to die for our sins so as to deliver us from the grave consequences of sin. God, the Almighty, the creator of the universe, the One larger than all that is and can ever be imagined, still makes Himself available to us at our beckoning. He protects, provide for, deliver, wipe tears from our eyes and part us on the back etc, we mere mortals! Who then are you to be full of yourself, to be high minded, haughty or to look down on everyone else, just because of your position in your office, your wealth, talents, skills or beauty? All these are privileges; it is the Almighty God that gave you all these. No man receives anything except it is given by God (John 3:27, James 1:17).

You should therefore be wise and come down from the dangerous position you have allowed pride to put you in. your pride is essentially putting you in the position of God. This perhaps is not known to you, and may not be your intent, but unknown to you, that is your state. The mercy of God is being extended to you through this devotional this day, so that you may repent and not allow the unpleasant experience of the wrath of God meant for the proud to come upon you before you learn. Ask King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:1-34, he would tell you better.    

Key Point

Destruction is the reward for pride.