PRIDE...

3-7-2025

Pride. 3-7-25

Proverbs 11:2 says, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom". I have been struggling with the issue of what is prideful sin and what is not. for some time now. I want to do things for God and I want to be proud in what I have accomplished. However, I understand fully and completely that the work that I do must come from God. You see, I have this problem, I rush headlong into things without thinking ahead. I am a doer. When I see something that needs done, I do it. Having to learn to slow down, think things through, work through the process, and let others assist or do the task when possible has been a struggle in my life. Growing up, I had to rely on myself or nothing was done. To be honest, we didn't eat unless I cooked. We didn't have groceries unless I went and bought them with our food stamps (when available) and brought them home. No garden, no water from the creek, no clean clothes, no clean house, absolutely everything was on my shoulders. So I am used to doing and just understanding that is life.

But God has also shown me this scripture very clearly. The scripture in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." A little over a year ago, I came face to face with my prideful nature. I made a mistake that put me prostrate on the ground crying out to God. My husband had told me not to do it. I did it anyway. I didn't listen to him or the Holy Spirit. I rushed headlong without slowing down and seeking God. I wasn't wrong in what I did, but I was wrong in how I did it, and therein lies the problem. I acted just like King Jehoshaphat when he made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel without seeking God's guidance and direction. It cost King Jehoshaphat and this cost me.

Since that time, I have made a point of "not rushing". I have deliberately made sure that I seek God's face. For a long time I was afraid to even say "Thank you" when given a compliment. I didn't want it to be prideful. I didn't want to go through that ever again.

I have an amazingly patient pastor. He allows me to text him and ask just simple questions. He responds without signs of annoyance at my hunger for more information that sometimes keeps me from realizing that not everyone is up at 6:00 in the morning when I am on my way to work. He also doesn't ask questions, just answers with his knowledge and God's grace. I have been wanting to seek guidance on this topic for many many months but have been reluctant to do so. When you mention to someone you are struggling with pride, they look at you funny, or at least they do me. Happened a couple of weeks ago when I was talking with a group about prideful nature. So finally, I gathered the courage this morning and texted my pastor to ask this question, "Can you have pride in accomplishments God has allowed you to do, but not be sinning?" He answered, "I think so."

Olivia Lane remarked this morning on The Message that "pride builds walls and humility builds bridges." Think about that. There is a sinful pride which is loving oneself and superiority, lack of humbleness, arrogance, and boastfulness. This type of pride builds up walls between ourselves and others. Those walls put limits on God, push Him out of the picture and place ourselves above others.

There is also a humility in acknowledging honestly that everything we have, do, and accomplish comes from God for His glorification. I still struggle with the difference in my life between sinful pride and understanding that God gives me talents to use for His glory in my own life. I want to first and foremost acknowledge His goodness and mercy. Acknowledge I would be nothing, absolutely nothing, without Him and his grace. I don't want to cross that line. I want to make sure that all I do is for God's glorification and not my own. I can say "thank you" when someone compliments hard work and accomplishments as long as I know that hard work and accomplishment is driven by God's edification and not by me.