Week of Monday March 17 - March 23
Pride Problem – Man as Instructor
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. - Obadiah 1:1b-4 ESV
If we are honest enough to admit it, most of us struggle with pride. Benjamin Franklin is credited with observing:
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive...even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.
The sin of pride transcends time and cultures. In many ways, pride is the original sin, dating back to the fall of Lucifer (Isaiah 14). Many of us struggle with it. But here’s the rub: God hates it. Pride is first on His “hate list” in Proverbs 6:16-19.
The nation of Edom had a pride problem. Despite being related to the Israelites through Jacob’s brother Esau, they stood by and did nothing while Israel was invaded. Some even gloated and celebrated the capture of Jerusalem. But God, who allowed these things to happen in order to judge Israel for their sins, would soon judge Edom for theirs.
Pride blinded Edom to their spiritual situation. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a vision condition where people can see close objects clearly but struggle to see those farther away. The Edomites failed to look beyond themselves and consider that God’s judgment might soon come upon them. This is the fate of all who refuse to accept the grace of God. They will receive justice instead of mercy.
As Franklin declared at the Constitutional Convention, “God governs in the affairs of men!” That biblical truth should inspire humility.
The story goes that Theodore Roosevelt and his friend, William Beebe, had a nightly ritual before going to bed. They would search the night sky for the constellation Pegasus. Once they located it, they would look for a small speck of light nearby and begin to chant: “That is the Spiral Galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our sun.” Roosevelt would then turn to Beebe and say, “Now I think we are small enough. Let’s go to bed.” This ritual highlights the importance of perspective in fostering humility.
Men, we ought to live our lives with a clear and committed understanding of the biblical worldview, resisting the false narratives of a prideful culture. We should cultivate humble hearts before our Creator and show love and compassion for those facing life’s challenges. Instruct those in your circle of influence that pride has no place in our hearts as we seek to honor Jesus in every part of our lives, including in how we treat those who are hurting.
- How are you guarding yourself against the sin of pride?
- How are you teaching your children and grandchildren about the dangers of pride?
- Pray and ask the Lord to reveal any pride in your life. Confess it and ask for His forgiveness and grace to help you overcome it.
Pride Problem – Man as Instructor
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. - Obadiah 1:1b-4 ESV
If we are honest enough to admit it, most of us struggle with pride. Benjamin Franklin is credited with observing:
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive...even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.
The sin of pride transcends time and cultures. In many ways, pride is the original sin, dating back to the fall of Lucifer (Isaiah 14). Many of us struggle with it. But here’s the rub: God hates it. Pride is first on His “hate list” in Proverbs 6:16-19.
The nation of Edom had a pride problem. Despite being related to the Israelites through Jacob’s brother Esau, they stood by and did nothing while Israel was invaded. Some even gloated and celebrated the capture of Jerusalem. But God, who allowed these things to happen in order to judge Israel for their sins, would soon judge Edom for theirs.
Pride blinded Edom to their spiritual situation. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a vision condition where people can see close objects clearly but struggle to see those farther away. The Edomites failed to look beyond themselves and consider that God’s judgment might soon come upon them. This is the fate of all who refuse to accept the grace of God. They will receive justice instead of mercy.
As Franklin declared at the Constitutional Convention, “God governs in the affairs of men!” That biblical truth should inspire humility.
The story goes that Theodore Roosevelt and his friend, William Beebe, had a nightly ritual before going to bed. They would search the night sky for the constellation Pegasus. Once they located it, they would look for a small speck of light nearby and begin to chant: “That is the Spiral Galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our sun.” Roosevelt would then turn to Beebe and say, “Now I think we are small enough. Let’s go to bed.” This ritual highlights the importance of perspective in fostering humility.
Men, we ought to live our lives with a clear and committed understanding of the biblical worldview, resisting the false narratives of a prideful culture. We should cultivate humble hearts before our Creator and show love and compassion for those facing life’s challenges. Instruct those in your circle of influence that pride has no place in our hearts as we seek to honor Jesus in every part of our lives, including in how we treat those who are hurting.
- How are you guarding yourself against the sin of pride?
- How are you teaching your children and grandchildren about the dangers of pride?
- Pray and ask the Lord to reveal any pride in your life. Confess it and ask for His forgiveness and grace to help you overcome it.