Check Your Pride

“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
A man who is full of pride becomes blind to his own weaknesses. His flaws could be so obvious that they stare him in the face, but he will not notice them. His pride gives him rose-colored glasses so that he sees only his admirable qualities. It is almost as if he is in denial that he possesses any inadequacies at all. The sin of pride, if not arrested, will lead to certain downfalls, and the disgrace will bring deep, humiliating shame. At the heart of pride is arrogance and rebellion, primarily against God. It is placing trust in self, abilities, possessions or setting any idol on the throne of our hearts besides the Lord God Almighty. “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwelleth in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high: that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.” (Obadiah 1: 3, 4) The prideful man will lift himself up and refuse to acknowledge his weakness, but a humble man will abase himself before the Lord. A humble man recognizes that his sins will find him out. He knows that his sinful nature must be crucified daily or else it will rise up and bring him shame. A man of humility shows wisdom by giving other godly men permission to hold him accountable to his faith and convictions.