“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18 KJV
There are many themes throughout Biblical history, however one in particular seems to keep happening over and over again, as if we just can’t seem to catch a drift of what God is trying to tell us and this theme is pride. Pride has been taught to us at a young age, some of which comes from parents pushing their children to be better at everything and some coming from a constant need for affirmation.
Sometimes we tend to get caught up in the work of our own hands and God has warned humanity about worshiping the works of our own hands very clearly.
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
1 Kings 11:4 KJV
As the verse says, not only did Solomon fall away to serve other gods, so did his father David. So history has repeated itself many times over. Isaiah the prophet warns how Judah and Jerusalem had turned to idols and worshiped the works of their own hands in Isaiah 2:8.
Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
Isaiah 2:8 KJV
Micah foretold how Judah would be humbled and how God would exalt Bethlehem by making the small city the birthplace of Jesus.
2. But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
Micah 5:2-4
Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
Micah 5:13
So it is of old as it is today. God exalts the humble and brings low the haughty. Throughout my career as an IT professional, God has humbled me many times. I spent fifteen years trying to climb my way to the top of the executive corporate ladder just to see my peers get promoted in my stead. I also spent most of that time being a showman, always swooping in to save the day when others failed to do so. God knew I had a haughty heart and he had every intention of bringing me low as a result. God didn’t do this to hurt me, on the contrary, He did it because He loves me. God never punishes us out of anger and hate, He does so out of love, much like how He wants us to deal with our own children.
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 13:24 KJV
Withhold not correction from the child: For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Proverbs 13:23 KJV
Conclusion
We must not let pride creep into our hearts, lest God deal with us swiftly. Therefore, be humble of heart, help those in need with a humble spirit and give credit where it is due. If you do this, then God will exalt you in due time and when God exalts you, it feels much more rewarding than when you exalt yourself. More importantly, seek God’s counsel in all things, God loves it when we humble ourselves and go to Him for help, for God is where our help comes from. I have God to credit for all of the solutions I have been a part of for God was the one who brought it to remembrance or led me in the right direction. When we rely on God for our help, we are more productive, less frustrated, and bless those who we are associated with.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
1 Peter 5:6 KJV
My help cometh from the LORD , Which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2 KJV