Topic: Danger of Pride [July 5, 2016]
Text: Obadiah 1-9
Key Verse: “Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD” (Obadiah 4).
John R. W. Stott, who made great impact for Christ in the twentieth century, considered pride as the greatest enemy of the human race. His succinct statement about pride goes straight to the heart of what the Bible teaches about the deadly root of sin and sorrow. Our text, today, amplifies it. God’s anger against Edom was specific.
The Edomites were proud of their great wealth, which they obtained from trading, iron and copper mining. They also trusted in the natural protection provided by the clefts of the rock. Their pride led them to believe that they would never be conquered. Though from human point of view, Edom was almost impregnable. Yet, it was not inaccessible to God. Obadiah’s vision was therefore Judah’s confidence that Edom would ultimately be destroyed. For Judah, God would not allow the forces of evil to triumph over His people. Curiously, there are those who view pride as a virtue.
They hardly believe that pride is both deceptive and damning. Those who are guilty of pride put down much confidence in their ability and so-called wisdom only to discover that this mindset is limited and myopic afterall. The proud never gets far; their over-bloated impression always turn out to be their waterloo. Pride can lead to serious consequences. It can strain your relationship with God and cause His wrath to be unleashed. Pride led to Lucifer’s demotion. It is often the undoing of many believers who repose much confidence in themselves than in Christ. Do you have any measure of pride in you however minute? Endeavour to uproot it from your life lest it transforms you an enemy of God. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”.
Thought for the day: Pride is self-destruction.
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Kings 11-13
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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