The Pitfalls Of Pride

He [or she] who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,But he [or she] who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.

Proverbs 28:25 (NKJV)

It’s been said, “Temper gets you into trouble. Pride keeps you there.”

Before we apply this to someone else, let’s see if this applies to us. Prideful. We are being prideful when we always think we have a better way or when we think we’re always right. When we do this, we can make others feel inferior. We dig in our heels.

Henry Beecher once said, “A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” Maybe that’s why pride always causes trouble and an atmosphere of tension. Unfortunately, pride makes us think that everything is about us. Every little slight is noted, even if unintentional. Every delay is resented. If we are the center of things, then others are on the outs. This makes us very hard to live with.

Ladies, let’s be honest. Is there a conflict that you are having with a friend, your husband, or in your church, and it comes down to the fact that you are offended that you didn’t get your way? Yes, maybe you think your idea or plan was best, and maybe it was, but now you’re angry. If you retain that resentment, can you see in the end nobody wins, including you?

Our proverb simply and yet clearly gives us both the cause and the antidote: “A proud heart stirs up strife, but [she] who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Trusting God relieves us of the need and even the desire to fight our own battles. Therefore, let me challenge you. Will you allow your heart to rest by shifting your confidence to God? Trust involves patience and a willingness to accept his sometimes unusual and creative solutions. I often quote Proverb 3:5-6 to myself. It reminds me that my natural instincts and insight are limited and flawed. God sees the end from the beginning.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

One Year Bible Reading

Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26