Proverb 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall. NIT
18 First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. The Message
No matter how you say it, the meaning is crystal clear. As my great grandmother would say to me, “Carol Ann, pride goeth before a fall.” I wasn’t very old and was not certain what she meant exactly, but I did know that she directed the statement at me.
And then my grandmother would say to me, “Carol Ann, pride goeth before a fall.” I was older and beginning to understand that she was trying to tell me something about myself.
And then my mother would say with some consistency, “Carol Ann, you must remember that pride always goes before a fall.” And by that time I understood that all of these loving women were trying to tell me something very important without bashing me over the head.
And they were right. At various times during my life the most trouble I have been in have resulted from my prideful self. I am not proud of that trait in me. It is destructive, and other people certainly don’t appreciate it at all. As I get older, I can look back and review the number of difficulties, big and small, which have resulted from my pride. I accept it, recognize it…but I certainly don’t like it.
And I am sorry to say even now when I get myself into some kind of awkward situation, I can generally look at myself and realize that in some way, pride was involved.
I was wondering today how I expect the Holy Spirit to work through me if my pride (ego) stands in the way. And the answer is that it cannot. Pride is a barrier that keeps God from working through us. God is available to all of us, but we need to be receptive to Him. Pride very effectively blocks God out.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want that to happen. I need God in my life. I pray that He helps all of us get rid of our pride so that we can truly be His servants.
Carol
Bible Breath: Let the Lord / Remove our pride
