In what ways can we guard against arrogance in our own leadership roles? Setting the Scene Judges 9:29: “If only this people were under my authority!” said Gaal. “Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Gather your army and come out!’” Arrogance on Display • Gaal boasts as though people belong to him, not to the Lord who delivered Israel. • He presumes he can “remove” Abimelech in his own strength. • He measures leadership by dominance and bravado instead of humility and service. Why Leaders Drift Toward Pride • Success can blur our dependence on God (Deuteronomy 8:17). • Praise from others feeds ego if not redirected to the Lord (Proverbs 27:21). • Authority tempts us to forget we are stewards, not owners (Psalm 24:1). Practical Safeguards Against Arrogance 1. Remember the true King – Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Daniel 4:37: “Those who walk in pride He is able to humble.” 2. Keep a servant’s posture – John 13:14: “If I then, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” 3. Invite consistent accountability – Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” – Galatians 6:1: Restore one another “in a spirit of gentleness.” 4. Celebrate others openly – Romans 12:10: “Outdo one another in showing honor.” – Philippians 2:3: “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” 5. Cultivate daily gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in every circumstance.” – James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” 6. Saturate leadership decisions in Scripture – Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 7. Embrace correction swiftly – Proverbs 12:1: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” 8. Shepherd, don’t dominate – 1 Peter 5:2-3: “Shepherd the flock of God… not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Living It Out Gaal’s swagger in Judges 9:29 warns us that unchecked pride can surface quickly in any leadership role—family, church, workplace, community. Guard your heart, serve with Christ-like humility, and keep pointing every success back to the God who entrusts the responsibility in the first place. |
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