Read: James 1:12-18
How often do we claim as our own, that which is a gift from God? So often in life we get caught up in what we have achieved without giving God the credit He deserves. Pride is often a barrier in our spiritual growth. Paul W. Powell once said “Pride is so subtle that if we aren’t careful we’ll be proud of our humility. When this happens our goodness becomes badness and our virtues become vices.”
It is said that Alex Haley, the author of the book “Roots,” had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall at one time. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When someone asked him why he had a picture like that, he said, “Well, every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, & begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help.”
It most likely is not just a coincidence that the book of Proverbs has a lot to say about the affects of pride in our lives. In fact this book of the Bible that is sometimes referred to as “the sayings of the wise” has around thirty references to the dangers of it. Here is just a sampling of those. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10 says, “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Probably the best known of them all is Proverbs 16:18 that says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
God does not want us to lack self-esteem and self-confidence! We are His children and that alone is enough to give us confidence to face each day. But God does want us to realize and acknowledge where our successes come from. In James 1:17-18 it says, “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.”
Make It Personal: Perhaps the next time we feel pride beginning to swell up within us we need to remember the turtle on the fencepost. We did not get here or there on our own!
Be a blessing this week, Glen Rhodes
