Serving God and Others: Devotions From Time of GraceНамуна

Pride makes you deaf

It’s not too hard to spot pride in other people. Pride makes people full of themselves, contemptuous of other people, totally into their own agendas, no empathy for the struggles of others, quick to brag, quick to take credit, and quick to blame. Pride makes you deaf to opinions and suggestions other than your own.

God hates it too. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). Here’s the question: how do you know if pride is a problem for you? And another: what can you do about it?

First, listen carefully to advice from those close to you, especially your spouse, your boss, and your coworkers. If the people God put closest to you tell you that you sound arrogant, you probably are.

Second, listen to God. Imitate your Savior Jesus, who humbled himself all the way to the cross. Prize service more than power, praising more than being praised, and listening to others more than talking about yourself. At one point in his life King David got too big for his own good, but he learned humility from God. You can too.