ESOCS Devotional 8 November 2024 – The Bane of Pride
MEMORY VERSE: “…For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:14 KJV
TEXT: LUKE 18:1-14
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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We live in a world that is gradually drifting from being humble to a proud society. A generation where people become ostentatious over every little thing God helped them accomplish in life. They easily become pompous and carry themselves with so much pride without knowing that they are only a disaster waiting to happen.
It is important we note that to walk in pride is to head for a doom. How can you come to the place of prayer or praise, thanksgiving or even service with a sense of competition, arrival mentality, intimidation, over-righteousness ideology and perfectionist thinking? In fact, who are you trying to impress by your proud disposition? Jesus saw the pride in the Pharisee who came to pray and instantly dismissed his prayer. Don’t forget, “These six things doth the Lord hate… A proud look…” (Proverb 6:16-17).
One major undoing of the proud man is that he is resisted by God: “Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble” (James 4:6). This collaborates 1 Peter 5:5: “… and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.”The crux of the matter then is, if God resist the man, who can assist him? God’s resistance is an automatic disqualification from man’s assistance.
It means that if anyone who walks in pride, he faces God’s resistance in the place of prayer and in every other thing else. Thus, the prayers are rejected and remain unanswered, as seen in our text. Existence in pride equals resistance in life. It is not possible for life to favour you when the owner of the earth is against you. It opens the door for shame, reproach and dishonour (Proverb. 11:12).
Beloved, please know that a life of pride is an invitation to destruction: “Pride goeth before destruction…” (Proverb 16:18). This happens because God is against the proud: “Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of Hosts…” (Jeremiah 50:31). If God is against you who can be for you? No wonder the destiny of any proud man is an inevitable, devastating fall, abasement and lowness in life (Proverb 29:23).
- Deal with every trace of pride in your life.
- Fill your heart with gratitude to God and be of a humble spirit.
- Surround yourself with humble people.
- Father, thank you for your words, forgive every trace of pride in me, grant me the grace to live in humility from today, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Proverbs 14:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-12
ESOCS Devotional 8 November 2024
