HAS PRIDE CREPT INTO OUR HEARTS?

God loves the humble. There is no room for pride in greatness.

Satan rose against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report to me so I may know how many there are."

2 Chronicles 21:1-2

Pride is a sin, and sin only produces death. Every unforgettable leader who changed the world for good was humble. Jesus himself is the primary example of humility. Mark 10:45 tells us that He came to serve and not to be served. He gave his life as a ransom for many.

King David, like Jesus, was humble and served his people. After He killed Goliath, he was so popular in Israel that even King Saul was jealous of David's popularity. Nevertheless, David was humble enough to remain in the palace playing the harp for Saul.

Christian leaders must be humble, but unfortunately, since they are also human, pride is a strong temptation. In my life, I have had the joy of working with world-renowned preachers. Some have been great examples of humility, but I have also worked with leaders whose pride was their downfall.

The challenge, my friends, is that most people do not realize they have opened their hearts to pride until their pride has hurt others. The Bible says that satan rose against Israel, tempting David with pride. He fell into temptation and sinned. His sin caused the lives of thousands. My friends, no one is exempt from sin. If you are a leader, you have a target on your back. If you sin, you, your family, and the people following you will suffer the consequences of that sin.

An excellent way to avoid falling prey to pride without realizing it is to surround ourselves with good friends who would love us enough to keep us humble. Ensure you always have someone around you who knows you well and loves you enough to tell you when you have opened your heart to pride. In addition, the Holy Spirit is always willing to help us. No matter what we accomplish, our prayer should always be for God to keep us humble.

To study more about pride listen to our Cornerstone Podcast https://www.globalgraceministries.com/ipodcast