STOP OVERATING YOURSELF!
TEXT:
"If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves." (Galatians 6 verse 3, New International Version).
To be humble is a Christian virtue. The Bible counsels us to be "clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (see 1st Peter 5 verse 5, James 4 verse 6). While humility attracts grace, the proud person is elbowed, resisted by God. That's frightening! Again, while pride goes before destruction (see Proverbs 16 verse 18 and Proverbs 18 verse 17), and before honour is humility (see Proverbs 18 verse 17). This clearly shows that as God's children, we have a choice to make, whether to be humble or to be prideful.
With beautiful rewards attached to humility, the child of God is counseled "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly," (see Romans 12 verse 3). Again, the Bible teaches us saying, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (see 1st Peter 5 verse 6 and James 4 verse 10).
Indeed, to be prideful is not only deceptive (see Obadiah 1 verse 3), but it's also an overt display of lack of understanding. For instance, with regards to knowledge, the Bible says that "... if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know." (see 1st Corinthians 8 verse 2). In other words, why would you boast about what you know when there's much more for you to know? Why don't you humble yourself and learn in order to know more?
Our Scripture reading for today says that "If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves." (see 1st Corinthians 8 verse 2).
Come to think of it: what do you have in life that has not been given to you? According to 1st Corinthians 4 verse 7, the Bible says,
" ... 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?"
In Matthew 23 verse 12, the Lord Jesus reiterated to us the danger of pride and the reward of humility saying,
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
As God's children, we are never to exalt ourselves beyond measure. Being prideful can lead one to fall into the condemnation of the devil (1st Timothy 3 verse 6). This is definitely a very serious matter. Certainly, God hates pride.
Apostle Paul lays for us a good example. He would refuse to let "any man ... think of (him) above that which he seeth (him) to be, or that he heareth of (him)." (see 1st Corinthians 12 verse 6, emphasis added). Speaking further to emphasize God's hatred for pride and self exaltation, he said:
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." (1st Corinthians 12 verse 7).
Dear child of God, learn to avoid pride at all costs because it brings shame. Proverbs 11 verse 2 says, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame:" Besides, if we claim to fear the Lord, it follows that we are to hate pride (Proverbs 8 verse 13), because He hates it (see Proverbs 6 verses 17 to 18).
PRAYER:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach me to humble myself and never to be prideful, in Jesus name