In the story of Moses, God gave Pharaoh multiple chances to repent and he didn’t take it. In Contrast, God gave Paul the chance to repent and he humbled himself and changed his behaviors. Paul chose to humble himself and receive God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. Remember, without repentance and changed behavior, a prideful person is ultimately choosing sin {Exodus 7:10-12; Acts 9:1-30}. As a Christian, we benefit nothing in being proud, as a matter of fact, pride leads to destruction {Proverb 16:18}. It is very better and preferable to be humble and live a solemn and remarkable life. Those who are filled up with pride wander about the earth surface and still have nothing but the humble are blessed with the fullness of the earth. The scripture says, “Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth” {Matthew 5:5}. As a believer, we have two inheritances; one on earth by being humble not proud and the other in heaven by accepting Christ and His teachings without backsliding. Believers’ pride is in the Lord and not in boasting of wrongful deeds or earthly possession, rather, give thanks to God and proudly the name of the Lord { Jeremiah 9:23-24} without having a dividing spirit. This is how God can recognize you on earth because God detest anyone who is proud in heart {Proverb 16:5}. Whatever you have, whatever you acquire, be humble with it because it was all given to you to test your faith and it can be taken away at any given period of time. The story of Job should be a great lesson, he was blessed with every good things of the earth, though he wasn’t proud but in a twinkle of an eye, all he had was taken from him. This is a lesson to create your awareness on the fact that your possession could all be gone in a day if you fail to adapt to humility because pride is always accompanied by disgrace {Proverb 11:12}
Pride simply means a feeling of deep pleasure and or satisfaction in one’s in one’s achievement and possession. What shall it profit a man by being resented by God because of pride {James 4:6}. Believers need a humble heart in order to be lifted up by God {James 4:10}. Never feel too much of yourself, neither should you boast of any of your possession or achievement with pride because all are worldly things and are not from the father in heaven {1 John 2:16}. Whatever you possess, remember it was God who supplied them to you, therefore you must reprimand from being arrogant towards the other believers {Roman 11:18-20}
The pride of the world is all the good things that reside on earth, a Christian can be tempted with this pride of life but we can always overcome the temptation if we have the Word in us and we in the Word. Jesus overcame all the temptation of the devil in the wilderness because the Word was in Him and He is the Word {John 1:1}
Attributes of Pride
A prideful person possesses one or all of the following:
- Being selfish and self-centered
- Thinking excessively about self
- Inability to reconcile with others
- Ingratitude
Attributes of Humility
A humble heart possesses the following characteristics:
- Trusting in the sovereignty of God
- Thankful
- Rejoicing with others
- Practicing unity based on salvation
- Having teachable Spirit
Your pride is in the Lord and not in your possession
Reference Scriptures
Exodus 7:10-12 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
Jeremiah 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Romans 11:19-20 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
– Minister Seyi Ayinla