How can we guard against pride as warned in Ezekiel 28:5? The Warning in Ezekiel 28:5 “By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of your wealth.” Why Pride Is So Dangerous • Pride warps our view of God’s gifts, tempting us to claim credit that belongs to Him alone (Isaiah 42:8). • It blinds us to our need for grace—“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) • It places us on a collision course with discipline: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18). Signs Pride May Be Creeping In • Excessive focus on achievements, titles, or possessions. • Reluctance to admit mistakes or receive correction (Proverbs 9:8-9). • Comparing ourselves to others instead of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:12). • Prayer life shrinking because we feel “self-sufficient.” • Irritation when unnoticed or unappreciated (Luke 17:10). Guardrails That Keep Pride Out 1. Daily gratitude – Thank God aloud for specific abilities, opportunities, and resources (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 2. Regular confession – Acknowledge sin quickly; keep short accounts with God (1 John 1:9). 3. Scripture meditation – Spend time in passages that highlight God’s greatness and our dependence (Psalm 8; John 15:5). 4. Serve in hidden ways – Choose assignments that bring no spotlight (Matthew 6:3-4). 5. Seek accountability – Invite trusted believers to speak into attitudes they observe (Proverbs 27:17). 6. Remember the cross – Revisit the cost of our redemption; nothing we have is earned (1 Corinthians 4:7; Galatians 6:14). Scriptures to Memorize • Matthew 23:12 – “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” • Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.” • 1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time.” Living the Lesson Today • Begin and end the day with honest self-assessment: “Lord, where did pride surface? Where did humility win?” • Celebrate others’ successes; speak words that elevate Christ, not self. • Keep wealth and talents on the altar—ready to use, ready to lose, as the Lord directs. • Stay teachable: read widely, listen carefully, and submit fully to God’s Word. |
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