“Arrogance and pride will make you fall. Be humble and remain humble in everything you do.”
Three fourths of our planet is covered by water. We can appreciate the beauty of the ocean but quickly realize we can never own it. It chooses the path it takes and when we decide to reside next to it, we must bow down to its might. Pride has a way of coming to shore when we have the self-belief, we can own everything by our own will.
On June 24th, 2021 tragedy struck in surf side FL as search and rescue personnel worked feverishly to find survivors after the partial collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building. “Scientists, however, have long noted the risk of building on the shifting sands of a barrier island, stated an official.”9 So many lives were lost in their sleep that night never imagining that the foundation of the building was slowly eroding. The pride and neglectful attitudes of the engineers’ beliefs that water would have mercy on the core structure proved a disaster. Pride has a way of causing everything that we hold dear to collapse around us. It might not happen right away but rest assured that pride has a way of breaking down our relationships to the point that all we are left with is what pride started…, self. “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor (Psalms 18:12 ESV).”
It’s important for you to examine your heart. Begin to be aware of your interactions and get a feeling if pride is seeping in. Tension, conflict, and emotional distance are good indicators if the corrosion of pride is at the center your heart. If feelings of anger arise because you didn’t get what you wanted chances are the seed is trying to germinate. The opposite is true with humility, because it has a way of bringing stillness to the water. When we put others before us a better support is created to work through difficulties; things get done, and the atmosphere is peaceful. Pride keeps chaos swirling around us like a violent tornado destroying everything in its path.
Paul once formerly known as Saul in the Bible shares what the pride of life cost him. Before coming to a true understanding of humbleness after being blinded on the road to Damascus and encountering Jesus, he killed and in prisoned Christians.
I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.” (Acts 22:3-11 NIV)
It took blindness for Paul to begin to see again. How Ironic, what we may seem to be living in the light, pride has a way of darkening our path. When we allow pride to take its course it’s like rolling waves that drag us out to see and leave us stranded. It’s believing we can build what we want when we want and never have any ill effects. The reality is just like Paul leaving a wake of destruction in his path, if we are not careful all we will find is remains of crumbled pieces beneath us to represent what family use to be like.
According to Proverbs 16:18 NIV, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
A spirit of humility allows you to build on the rocks where the rolling tides can never reach. When you live a selfless life God raises you up and protects you. James challenges, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:10 NIV).” In Ephesians 4:6 we find the approval of God when we are humble, “But he gives us more grace…God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Today is your day, allow pride to fade and the light of humility to shine through.
Dive Deeper
- What are some areas in your life that pride can possibly be seeping in?
- What comparison can be made with the collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building in Miami and pride?
- According to Ephesians 4:6 how does God look upon pride verses humility?
Thank you so much. Pride is an awful spirit. When we are grateful and thank God for everything then I believe we will live in peace.