Pride
This has been a troubling article. The more I began to study it, the harder it hit home. Pride can invade any area of your life. We don’t realize how damaging it is until we lose something (Pr 16:18 ¶ pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall). The old saying “You should be proud of your work” is correct. You should be proud of what you’ve achieved with God’s gifts but not proud of yourself because you think you did it. I’ve accomplished much in my life and with great success, but I know it’s not me. God has blessed the work of my hands (Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above). Not only that, but He has given me the wisdom to know the importance of surrounding myself with talented people of the same spirit. I could not achieve what I do at work without other believers’ help, fellowship, and prayers. I could not manage, guide, teach, and lead my family in the ways of God as successfully as I have without my wife. We are like-minded with a common selfless goal. She is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, and we are one. I used to think of iron sharpening iron as me and one of my strong brothers studying the Word together, but I’ve realized that my wife is the other piece of iron in my life. She’s as strong in the Word as anyone I know. My successes are not my own. It’s easy to lose sight of that, and when you begin to think that it’s all you, you’re done. It’s just a matter of time. The longer it continues, the more successful you become, the greater the fall. That’s why Jesus said in (Mt 19:24, “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”). When a man has it all, it’s easy to think he doesn’t need God. That’s a dangerous place to be. Money, success, fame, and fortune are not the only vulnerable areas. Everything that you do and everything that you think can be infected with pride. Even in ministry, pride is deadly (1Ti 3:6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil). Give God the glory for everything that you do and be faithful with what you have (Mt 25:21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’). God can bless you far beyond anything you can achieve alone. (1Pe 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time). David prayed a simple prayer that can change your life. (Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting). I’ve prayed that prayer twice, and both times I was broken and brought to my knees. The revelation of our imperfection is devastating, especially when you are oblivious to it, and it smacks you in the face; better to find out now than later. Seek God, stay humble, and give Him glory for all you do.
Be blessed and BE BOLD,
Pastor Charlie
This has been a troubling article. The more I began to study it, the harder it hit home. Pride can invade any area of your life. We don’t realize how damaging it is until we lose something (Pr 16:18 ¶ pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall). The old saying “You should be proud of your work” is correct. You should be proud of what you’ve achieved with God’s gifts but not proud of yourself because you think you did it. I’ve accomplished much in my life and with great success, but I know it’s not me. God has blessed the work of my hands (Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above). Not only that, but He has given me the wisdom to know the importance of surrounding myself with talented people of the same spirit. I could not achieve what I do at work without other believers’ help, fellowship, and prayers. I could not manage, guide, teach, and lead my family in the ways of God as successfully as I have without my wife. We are like-minded with a common selfless goal. She is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, and we are one. I used to think of iron sharpening iron as me and one of my strong brothers studying the Word together, but I’ve realized that my wife is the other piece of iron in my life. She’s as strong in the Word as anyone I know. My successes are not my own. It’s easy to lose sight of that, and when you begin to think that it’s all you, you’re done. It’s just a matter of time. The longer it continues, the more successful you become, the greater the fall. That’s why Jesus said in (Mt 19:24, “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”). When a man has it all, it’s easy to think he doesn’t need God. That’s a dangerous place to be. Money, success, fame, and fortune are not the only vulnerable areas. Everything that you do and everything that you think can be infected with pride. Even in ministry, pride is deadly (1Ti 3:6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil). Give God the glory for everything that you do and be faithful with what you have (Mt 25:21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’). God can bless you far beyond anything you can achieve alone. (1Pe 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time). David prayed a simple prayer that can change your life. (Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting). I’ve prayed that prayer twice, and both times I was broken and brought to my knees. The revelation of our imperfection is devastating, especially when you are oblivious to it, and it smacks you in the face; better to find out now than later. Seek God, stay humble, and give Him glory for all you do.
Be blessed and BE BOLD,
Pastor Charlie
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