Two-minute read.
Humility comes with self-awareness of your place in the world and God’s sovereignty over it. When things happen, humble people defer to the Lord’s will, understanding His ways differ from ours, and we can’t comprehend all that He does. Pride, on the other hand, has self-bestowed divinity and an inflated ego. In other words, they think the world revolves around them and their opinion, not the Creator’s viewpoint.
As one of the pastors in my life said, pride is the root of all sin. I made that comment in a women’s group, and one of the ladies disagreed, saying she thought selfishness caused sin. Although we didn’t have the opportunity to discuss it, I don’t disagree; however, I do think that selfishness stems from pride.
Pride, as defined by Expositor’s Bible Commentary, “is literally a boiling up; thus an overstepping of the boundaries and insubordination is meant.” Thinking we know more than God never goes well.
“You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”?”
Isaiah 29:16
When pride rears its ugly head in our lives, we turn things upside down and act like we created the world instead of God. We can’t comprehend how the Lord transformed darkness into light and brought life into existence, yet at times, we act as if we do.
Allowing pride to lead the way gives the devil a foothold. Self-righteous anger begins to develop, and everything becomes about us, and we can’t see the whole picture. Only when we humble ourselves and surrender to God’s authority can we begin to see the truth.
Stay humble by submitting your life to the Savior. Seek His will for your life. Live abundantly, serving the Creator in His creation.
Journal Question:
How has pride affected your life?
What indicates pride to you?
How can you remain humble?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for creating the world and giving us life. Forgive us when we let pride inflate our ego, blinding us to the truth. Please give us the tools we need to remain humble and hungry for you.
IJNIP. Amen
