Pride, it affects us all at one time or another. Even the man after the heart of God, David, struggled with it at one time or another. In the Bible reading today we see the pride of David and his kingdom, come out. David takes a census of his people and wants to know how big the army is that he is leading. Even Joab, David’s general struggles with the census and David’s pride at the moment. David lets his pride get the best of him and God responds by punishing the whole land with a plague, and as a result many people die. David responds in humility going to the threshing floor and buying the property to worship God.
God in is His word says that He hates the proud and opposes the proud as an enemy. Why does pride make us enemies of God? Because when we become proud we replace God in our lives with ourselves. We in one sense, when we are proud, become our own god. Pride also in our lives is a doorway to other sins. When we are proud we lie and make ourselves look better. When we are proud we become self-focused and think more highly of ourselves. When we are proud we covet and desire what God has not given us. Becoming proud leads down the road to a multitude of much other sins. So being prideful not only replaces God in our lives with ourselves but also leads down a road away from God.
So what is the opposite of pride? The answer to that question is humility. And as C. S. Lewis said, humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. David showed humility when God got is attention. Do we show humility instead of pride? Humility is putting the needs, desires, and wants of others, including and most importantly God, above your own. Humility is not thinking you are dirt or a horrible person, but rather elevating God and others above yourself in your mind. Humility can have a very confident way about it. Humility knows that it is saved by grace and is a child of the King. Humility keeps God and His view of others in center sight. Humility is the opposite of pride.
God in is His word says that He hates the proud and opposes the proud as an enemy. Why does pride make us enemies of God? Because when we become proud we replace God in our lives with ourselves. We in one sense, when we are proud, become our own god. Pride also in our lives is a doorway to other sins. When we are proud we lie and make ourselves look better. When we are proud we become self-focused and think more highly of ourselves. When we are proud we covet and desire what God has not given us. Becoming proud leads down the road to a multitude of much other sins. So being prideful not only replaces God in our lives with ourselves but also leads down a road away from God.
So what is the opposite of pride? The answer to that question is humility. And as C. S. Lewis said, humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. David showed humility when God got is attention. Do we show humility instead of pride? Humility is putting the needs, desires, and wants of others, including and most importantly God, above your own. Humility is not thinking you are dirt or a horrible person, but rather elevating God and others above yourself in your mind. Humility can have a very confident way about it. Humility knows that it is saved by grace and is a child of the King. Humility keeps God and His view of others in center sight. Humility is the opposite of pride.
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