I Pet 5:5b-7 “…be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 

I read a funny article today, and I thought I would share it with you. One Sunday, A Missionary in Venezuela was preaching on what God thinks of pride. For 30 minutes he delivered his sermon on how pride is an abomination to God. 

He railed on the congregation to search out pride in our lives and destroy it. He said that pride comes before destruction and that pride is what keeps us from surrendering to God. The problem was that the congregation was not responsive. Actually, they were responding, but not the way he expected. 

Many people were smiling and others were trying not to laugh with their hands over their mouths. Some people were just outright laughing. After the service, the missionary was very discouraged with the attitude of the congregation. He couldn’t understand what had happened. He knew that God had led him to speak against pride and didn’t know what to say. Finally, His wife came up to him and told him that for 30 minutes he wasn’t speaking against pride) the Spanish word Orgullo) but rather against Squirrels! (the Spanish word Ardilla)! The mental pictures were quite funny! Christians hunting out squirrels (pride) and killing them. God hates squirrels! No room for squirrels in a Christian’s life! It was a riot.

Pride is one of the seven deadly sins in the Bible. It caused Adam and Eve death in the garden when they rebelled against Gods Word. It led to Cain killing his own brother when he thought his offering was better. It caused the death and destruction of thousands in Egypt when Pharaoh stiffened his neck and refused to yield to God’s authority. 

How has pride hurt you? If you think about it, pride is the foundation for sin. The root of our wickedness is a spirit of rebellion and selfishness. Pride is rebellion. It’s disobedience; it’s selfishness. It says “I want” and “I need”. Think about it. When you argue and fight at home, it’s pride that says you’re always right. You are not being treated fairly. It’s about you. 

Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We shake our fist into God’s face and say “my will” not “your will”. I can do whatever I want. I know better and you can’t tell me what to do. Ever said that? Sound familiar? 

Isaiah 53:6 says “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” If you try to come to God on your terms, He will resist you. God says humble yourself and he will lift you up. Are you willing to get on your knees and submit yourself to God’s authority? Are you willing to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord & live it? 

Romans 10:9 says “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” 

Are you willing to humble yourself and say thy will be done and not my will? Jesus did that for you and for me on the cross. 

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Matthew Spoonhour is pastor of First Baptist Church, Monroe.