Ain't I Grand?

Alyssa had no idea she was puffy with pride. She was just excited when her teacher decided to publish a two-page weekly classroom newspaper. Alyssa loved to write stories, she always got A’s in English, and she knew she was the best choice for editor. Alyssa wanted the newspaper done right. She told the teacher that she was the best person to be in charge. When Kylie was chosen as editor instead, Alyssa demanded to know why. Mr. Jackson shrugged. “Kylie’s grades aren’t as high as yours, but she works better with people. She listens to them.” In other words, Kylie wasn’t too proud to consider her classmates’ ideas.

How does God feel about the proud, overly self-confident person? “He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.” (Proverbs 3:34 TNIV) Why is pride such a big deal? A haughty, stuck-up person finds it impossible to be kind, gentle, or forgiving. Pride also causes us to think we can run our own lives without God’s help. Even the devil—who started out as an angel in heaven—let pride ruin his life. (When he decided he wanted to be God himself, Satan was thrown out of heaven forever.) So does being humble mean you will crawl on the ground like a worm all your life? Absolutely not! “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” (James 4:10 NLT) Be humble—and let God raise you up in his time.