‘Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.’ Proverbs 16:18(NLT)
‘Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.’ Proverbs 29:23(NLT)
‘Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!’ Romans 12:16(NLT)
‘Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory. As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord .” When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.’ 2 Corinthians 10:12-18(NLT)
For me, staying away from pride takes a gut check. It is a time-out with just me and God. It’s when I stop everything else and focus on Him. It’s me listening to my Creator. Really listening. It’s something that I have to do.
There are so many other voices that tell me nice things. There are the people I counsel who are grateful for the help they receive. There are the people who read my books or blogs or other things that I write and tell me how these made a difference for them. Then there are emails and podcast comments and other things that are usually complimentary. My pride comes when I begin to believe that I really did all of the above on my own. The truth is that all of these accolades are really for God because without Him I truly could do nothing.
At the end of every day, I walk in our home and find a wife that sees me as I am. The nice things people write and say about me mean nothing to her if she does not see me unselfishly loving her and helping build our marriage. The gut check comes when I begin to believe the lie that I did it all myself. It comes when I see my pride getting in the way of everything God tells me is important. My pride has no place in my life or in my marriage. It never works in either place.
Today’s Challenge:
How can pride affect a relationship in a negative way?
Going Deeper:
1. What are some of the “good sides” of pride?
2. As men, how can pride affect our marriages?
3. As women, how can pride affect our marriages?
4. What are ways that we are vulnerable to putting ourselves in the center instead of God?
from Seven Deadly Sins And Your Marriage by Dr. Kim Kimberling