Growing Proud

Written by Suzanne Benner

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There is great satisfaction in a job well done, but there is also a danger.

Pride, that insidious sin, tends to swell our brains so that they can no longer think straight.

Although we often begin with the right attitude, using the gifts God has given us – health, energy, creativity or intelligence – to work, learn and produce, sometimes in the end our perspective becomes distorted. We start to think too highly of ourselves and forget that it was God who enabled us to accomplish these things in the first place.

In the Old Testament judgment was proclaimed on the city of Tyre, not because of their ambition or skill, but because they had grown proud.

“By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud.” (Ezekiel 28:5)

“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor” (Ezekiel 28:17).

We can keep ourselves from falling into the same trap of arrogance by remembering that everything we have is a gift from God.

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not” (1 Corinthians 4:7)?

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

God give me a grateful heart to always remember that everything thing I have – my intelligence, beauty, athletic ability, musical talent – is a gift from You. Thank you for the amazing things You have done in me and through me; may I never forget Your work in me and grow proud.

Questions: In what situations are you in danger of growing proud? What helps keep you from falling into the trap of pride?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Daily audio podcast: Hear today’s daily devotional, Growing Proud, read aloud on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Tags: arrogance, creativity or intelligence, energy, grateful heart, health, insidious sin, learn, old testament, pride, proud, Suzanne Benner, Tyre, work

4 Responses to “Growing Proud”

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Susan says:

July 16, 2009 at 5:49 am

Thank you ladies for your love of God and for being moved to share it with us! God has revealed to me that I am battling pride and I continue daily to struggle. Arlette, I was particularly blessed by your entry indicating that “pride lulls you into thinking that you can control the outcome of anything.” You have essentially nailed for me where I am falling, thinking if I just work harder, smarter, longer, I will master whatever task is before me. Oh how this deception has kept me from the peace of God! I thank and praise Him for showing me how I prevent His peace from guarding my heart and mind due to my own efforts! Praise God for His mercy, wisdom and compassion! He is so good!
susan
Romel Horsman says:

July 15, 2009 at 1:16 pm

I think satan was referred here as the king of tyre for beauty and wisdom that he was not able to contain his ego but lifted and would like to usurp GOD on HIS throne to be worshiped. Pride is the cause of Satan’s downfall and we are very much a target of it too. But I remember a powerful warning verse for me that kept me on check. This one:

Micah 6:8 (New King James Version)

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

GOD bless.
RomelH
Arlette says:

July 15, 2009 at 7:17 am

Wonderful! I think pride is so dangerous because it lulls you into thinking that you can control the outcome of anything. Your talents, hard work and long hours or whatever it may be are the reason why you can do this or have that. Truly our Father controls it all, gives it all and takes away as His will. It is to Him we should give thanks for by no efforts of our own are we blessed but in His hand we all rest. Thank you for this beautiful reminder to praise the Lord for all things great and small and to give thanks every moment for His love.
Marilyn says:

July 15, 2009 at 5:13 am

Great devotion, Suzanne! Pride is, indeed, an insidious infection of the heart, that causes us to steal glory from God, and worship self. It can even happen in the ‘spiritual arena,’ where we might be serving God, using gifts He has given us, and allowing our egos to feed on the recognition we get from our labors. I know this all too well, as I struggled with a prideful heart when I was invited to lead a small group Bible study many years ago. Having been a Christian for about 3 years, I felt honored to be asked and was excited about the opportunity. But, Satan used this same opportunity to puff up my ego, that I would enjoy the acclaim of being a ‘Bible study leader,’ and think that I was ‘all that!’ But, God in His mercy and grace, showed me how I was idolizing self, and I stepped down at the end of that series, asking Him to never allow me to accept another invitation from Satan to share God’s glory again! If it meant serving Him incognito, I would choose that over withholding glory from the Lord! God has been faithful to me, offering me many opportunities to serve Him without the risk of self-glorification. This has blessed me so much more, for, as Mother Theresa declared, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.” Amen!