The Enemy of Pride

Read Psalm 29

Psalm 29:2

2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His Name, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Pride is a powerful enemy. It doesn’t take long for success to inflate our ego and lead us to say, “Look what I have done.” How do you defend against prideful failure? Psalm 29 encourages us to give the Lord the glory due His Name. Worship the Lord and give thanks for the ability He has given you. Contrary to what you may think, God did it, not you.

Please re-read that paragraph above. If there is anything in it that causes you to object, defend, or even justify your success through your own effort, it could be an indication of pride in your life.

Don’t get mad at me, repent of the pride and give the Lord His due!

Our culture celebrates pride. Be careful.

In 2 Chronicles 26:4 we are told about the life of King Uzziah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. And prosper he did! Uzziah became a rich and powerful king. He built impressive walls, towers, and fortresses. His army grew to great numbers and Uzziah invented powerful military devices and weapons that made him famous throughout the land. Everyone was impressed with Uzziah, but his downfall came when Uzziah became very impressed with himself!

2 Chronicles 26:14 “But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” Uzziah forgot that his prosperity came through seeking the Lord.

Uzziah became so prideful he put his own order above God’s order, and the results were disastrous. When Azariah the priest held him accountable Uzziah became furious! Pride refuses to be held accountable. Uzziah became angry at the Lord’s correction and lashed out at the priests, even though it was well-known that only the priests were allowed by God to burn incense in the temple. As Uzziah was in mid-temper tantrum, leprosy broke out on his body. His flesh had already failed him spiritually, but now the disease of pride was clearly visible to all, and Uzziah died an isolated, lonely man.

The Bible is full of many stories that reveal the mistakes of others. We must stay connected to God in His Word so we can learn from those who have come before us. Don’t let pride bring you down. Tear it out at the root and give the Lord the glory due His name, worship the Lord in beauty of holiness.

Lord Jesus, keep me humble and always focused on your power that gives me strength. May I always give glory to Your Name, Jesus. Amen

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of New Hope Community Church in Brentwood, TN.

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