How can we avoid the prideful attitude seen in Moab, Jeremiah 48:27? The Warning from Moab “Was not Israel a joke to you? Was he found among thieves, that whenever you speak of him you shake your head?” Moab laughed at God’s people, ridiculed their struggles, and felt superior. The Lord judged that arrogance. The lesson is clear: unchecked pride distances us from God and invites His discipline. Spotting Pride Early • Looking down on the failures of others • Measuring worth by achievements, status, or heritage • Resisting correction or reproof (Proverbs 15:32) • Boasting about spiritual accomplishments (Luke 18:11–12) Why Pride Is So Dangerous • It blinds us to sin (Obadiah 1:3). • It steals glory that belongs to God alone (Isaiah 42:8). • It blocks grace: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). • It precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Cultivating a Humble Heart 1. Daily acknowledge God’s sovereignty – Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.” 2. Remember the source of every gift – 1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive?” 3. Practice honest self-examination – Lamentations 3:40: “Let us examine and test our ways.” 4. Celebrate others’ victories – Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice.” 5. Serve quietly and sacrificially – Matthew 6:3: “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” 6. Keep short accounts with God – 1 John 1:9: confess quickly, receive cleansing, stay soft. Heart Checkpoints to Avoid Moab’s Pitfall • Am I secretly pleased when someone else stumbles? • Do I think certain tasks are beneath me? • When I speak of others, is it with respect or condescension? • Do I accept correction gratefully or defensively? Encouragement for the Journey “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Stay mindful of Moab’s fate, keep your heart low before the Lord, and He will lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:6). |
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