Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
James 4:16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
Jeremiah 17:7 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
I’ve been thinking about pride, mostly because I suffer from it. I realized my affliction because I recently suffered some painful experiences God must have decided I needed to keep in in check.
In thinking about pride, I think there must be a fine line between arrogance, confidence, and insecurity.
I’m pretty confident. I rationalize that I need to be. People who are going to trust me with millions of dollars of their money for long lasting buildings expect it. You don’t want your heart surgeon to say “I think I can do this” just before you go under anesthesia do you? You don’t want your attorney to say “I’ve never had a case like this” just before you walk into the courtroom do you?
On the other hand, ever catch someone tout their own accomplishments. I’ve caught myself bragging like this. In most cases I don’t believe that comes from a grandiose self-image. Quite the opposite, I think it comes from a low self-image and a desire to assert your worth to others.
I’ve determined perhaps my confidence is in myself, and all that I’ve accomplished. It’s as if God didn’t have anything to do with it.
The truth is any gifts I have, any opportunities I’ve come across, any lessons I learned were all from him. Without him I could have done nothing. I hope I’ve finally learned this lesson because falls hurt.
How about you? Are you tired of bruising falls? Then get down on your knees where it’s harder to trip, and thank the one who enables you to stand tall.