30 Days of Praying through 1 & 2 Chronicles: Day 22 – Pride & Humility

2 Chronicles 26:16

But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Let’s talk about pride. Pride is mentioned countless times throughout the Bible and it’s never in a positive way. Pride is having an inflated sense of self-righteousness or conceit. It’s always making decisions that benefit self while not caring how it affects others. Pride is detestable to the Lord and will eventually lead to disgrace, destruction, and despair.

• Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
• ‭‭Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Proverbs 29:23 – Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

King Uzziah along with two other famous prideful men, Nimrod and King Saul, were destroyed because of their pride. They thought of themselves as better than God and did not follow his ways. But the most famous story of pride was Satan’s attempt to become God. This caused him to be cast out of heaven and will eventually meet his impending doom.

So, how can we battle against this detestable sin? James 4 and 1 Peter 5 tell us to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand and he will lift us up. He shows favor and honor to the humble. Those who are prideful try to elevate themselves. But when we clothe ourselves with humility, God is the one who lifts us up. Our greatest example of humility is Jesus. Let’s meditate on Philippians 2:6-11 for a moment:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earthed, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let’s check out hearts today and trade in the disgrace, destruction, and despair of pride for the grace, honor, and elevation of humility. But most of all, let’s be like Jesus.

Father, thank you for your great example of humility. We are so easily taken in by pride. Forgive us, Lord for thinking too highly of ourselves and not humbling ourselves before you. Help us Lord to clothe ourselves with humility and follow Jesus’ example. Shower us with grace and honor and lift us up in due time. Amen.