The Trap of Pride

Readings for today: Amos 6-9, Psalms 127

Pride presents a clear and present danger to our relationship with God. I commit the sin of pride every time I live or think or act as if God is not my helper. As if I don’t need God. As if my own strength, my own wisdom, and my own resources are more than enough. If I am honest, pride is something I have to fight each and every day. It’s why it’s essential for me to spend time with God every morning. When I spend time in God’s Word and in prayer, I am reminded of my desperate need for Him. I am reminded of my need for daily bread from His hands. I am reminded that though I may not have it in me to face and overcome the challenges of that particular day, God is more than able. And not only is He more than able, He is more than willing to be my supply. Why is pride so dangerous? It leads to spiritual amnesia. It causes us to forget God. It makes us start to believe our own hype. It turns us into fools.

In our reading today, the people of God come under severe judgment. Judgment so harsh that it would put an end to them altogether except for the intercession of Amos. Amos cries out to God multiple times to spare His people lest they be utterly consumed and God relents. At the same time, God doesn’t clear the guilty. He doesn’t give them a pass. He will take them into exile and turn them over to their enemies and all the wealth they’ve accumulated for themselves will be wiped away. All the injustices they’ve allowed to stand will be atoned for. All the pain and suffering they’ve created will be visited back on them many times over. What is God’s goal here? Is it punitive retribution? Vengeance over all they have done? Has God finally lost His patience and lashing out? Not at all. God is humbling His people. He is reminding them on a visceral level of their desperate need for Him. And once that lesson is taught. Once that lesson is learned. God promises restoration. God promises to rebuilt the ruins. God promises to bring them back home again.

I love how the Psalmist puts it, “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.” (Psalms‬ ‭127‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God is our helper. God is our builder. God is our provider. God is our protector. Without God, humanity is to be pitied. Without God, humanity has no hope. Without God, humanity is lost. And it is up to people of God, filled with the Spirit of God, walking humbly before their God to show the world what a life with God actually looks like on the daily. For better or worse, we are the instruments God has chosen to make known the riches of His love and grace.

Readings for tomorrow: Obadiah 1, Psalms 128 (No devotionals on Sundays)

The Danger of Pride

Readings for today: Ezekiel 25-28

Pride is an ever-present danger. It is the root of all sin. It is a fundamental attitude that says, “I don’t need God” or “there is no God.” Pride elevates Self and places him/her on the throne. Pride suggests “I don’t need any help.” Pride believes “I am sufficient on my own.” Pride asserts, “I am the master of my fate, the captain of my destiny.” None of these things are true, of course, but pride makes us believe them anyway. Pride blinds us to the utter weakness of our condition. Pride makes us think we are immune to random chance. Pride gives us a false sense of confidence that we are in control.

In Ezekiel, Tyre is the very embodiment of pride. It’s why the prophet spends so much time talking about her fall. She was the queen of city-states in the ancient world. Master of trade. Her ships traveled all over the Mediterranean bringing her great wealth and power. She built up a strong military. No one dared mess with her. As a city, she enjoyed order and peace which, in turn, allowed businesses to thrive. She built up strong alliances all over the Middle East. She was at the pinnacle of her power when Nebuchadnezzar came with his armies and literally wiped her from the map. As such, she stands as an example to all of what happens to even the greatest of human civilizations. And it’s why the princes of the kingdoms around her weep over her fall. They see in her their own doom as well.

Pride is a false god. An idol of our own creation. It places us in a position we were never designed to hold. Human beings were created to live in humble reliance on God. We were created to live in intimate relationship with God. Trusting Him for all our needs, wants, and desires. We were created to give glory to God in all we think, do, or say. All we create. All we produce. All the resources we accumulate are intended to be tools in our hands to bring God even more honor and praise. When we live in right relationship with God, we are humble and self-effacing. We don’t think too highly of ourselves nor do we diminish ourselves. We simply think of ourselves less. Our hearts and minds become consumed with serving God and blessing others in His name.

Why is it so tempting to give into pride? To begin to believe in ourselves rather than trust God? To start reading our own headlines and believing our own hype? The reality is that we all want a taste of glory. We all want a share in what God has done. We all want some of the credit when it comes to our achievements and success. We all enjoy being the center of attention on some level. This is why social media is so addictive, by the way. And pushing back against this tide is hard. Swimming against this current is exhausting. Cutting against this grain requires intentionality and discipline and self-denial because everything in our world today is geared towards the elevation of self. Every message we get from the world seeks to glorify the self. It’s why spending time before God each day is so critical. We need to be regularly reminded of the distance between us and God and what God has done to close that gap for us. Daily reflection on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ keeps us on our knees before Him in humility and thankfulness.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 29-32

The Deadly Sin of Pride

Readings for today: Ezekiel 27-28, James 4

One of the besetting sins of humanity is pride. Like Adam, we all want to become our own gods. Human history is replete with example after example of what happens when a person or tribe or nation achieves a certain measure of power, wealth, and privilege. They become proud. Arrogant. They forget God. They ignore God. They replace God. The most megalomaniacal even believe they’ve become God.

Interestingly enough, those who would be gods almost always fall into the same pattern. They almost always make the same mistake. In an effort to prove their “godliness”, they build monuments to themselves. Monuments to their own glory. Monuments that stretch as high as possible, reaching up towards the heavens. Think of the Tower of Babel. Think of the obelisks and images and pyramids of Pharaoh. Think of the temples and palaces and structures archaeologists have discovered all over the world in almost every great culture. Now think of our own time. Think of our own country. Think of how those who would be god build monuments to themselves through social media. Marketing. Advertising. The goal is to have the #1 hit single. The #1 bestseller. The largest, multi-national corporation. The most political influence and clout. They use their resources to self-promote, all in an effort to make their own name great. Pastors and churches are not immune. The goal for many is to draw the largest crowds. Raise the most funds. Build the biggest buildings on sprawling campuses across the country. 

Do we not realize the risk we are running here? We who would be great should take heed from the warnings God has given through the prophet Ezekiel to the kings of Tyre. "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever." (Ezekiel‬ ‭28:12-19‬) Whew. This pride thing is no joke!

I know I’ve shared this before but it’s worth mentioning here again. Several years ago, the Lord spoke to me during a time of prayer. You see, I am as ambitious as the next person. I am as prideful as any. My heart longs for success and recognition. I too would love to see my name in lights. So the Lord confronted me. And He gave me three words to guide the rest of my life…

• Obscurity: God has commanded me to labor in obscurity. To be content with where He puts me. He has made it clear that I never seek another position. Never seek another raise. Never seek another opportunity. I am simply to walk with open hands before Him and let Him fill them with whatever He desires for my life.

• Anonymity: God has commanded me to embrace anonymity. He has made it clear that I am never to self-promote. Never seek to make my name great. Never seek out recognition or pride of place. I am to spend my life and ministry promoting others above myself and let them have all the credit.

• Insignificance: God has commanded me to acknowledge my insignificance. In the grand sweep of God’s eternal plan, my contributions are very small. I am not an essential cog in this machine. I am easily replaceable. I am simply one servant among billions who has been called to play a very minor role in God’s Kingdom.

Does this mean all my success is evil? Does this mean all the wealth and power and privilege God has granted me is to be despised? Does this mean I should never aspire to anything? Never work hard? Never try my best? Anyone who knows me, knows that cannot be true. The key is motivation. True humility is not thinking more highly of oneself than one ought or less of oneself than one ought. Rather it is thinking of oneself less. Again, it means walking with open hands before the Lord. Letting Him fill them up with His plans for your life.  

As I’ve learned to walk with an open heart before the Lord, it’s been amazing to see where He’s taken me. Humbling to see what He’s entrusted me with. Professionally, I get to be the pastor of an incredible church. I’ve been given leadership opportunities nationally in my denomination. I am an adjunct faculty member at Denver Seminary. I’ve been blessed to teach overseas and help lead a revival in the Horn of Africa. Personally, He’s taught me how to be a better husband and father. A better friend and neighbor. All of this came to me from God’s own hands. I did not seek it out nor was I remotely qualified on paper for most of these positions. God simply moved me like a pawn on His great chessboard as He works out His will for the world. And I am happy and content to play my part. 

What about you? Do you find yourself aspiring to greatness? Seeking to achieve all you can? Accumulate all you can? Earn the recognition of your peers? What drives you? What feeds your ambition? Is it the Lord or is it your pride? Heed the words of Ezekiel. Take care lest you follow in the footsteps of Pharaoh. Humble yourself before the Lord and let Him guide your steps. 

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 29-31, James 5