What practical steps can we take to avoid arrogance like Ben-Hadad's? Seeing the Ruins: Ben-Hadad’s Pride in 1 Kings 20:30 “Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid himself in an inner room.” (1 Kings 20:30) The king who once boasted, “The dust of Samaria will not be enough for each of my soldiers to take a handful” (v. 10), ends cowering behind a collapsed wall and a locked door. His story warns that unchecked self-importance brings sudden collapse. Practical Steps to Keep Pride from Taking Root • Acknowledge God’s absolute rule every morning – Psalm 103:19 “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” – Start the day by consciously yielding your schedule and ambitions to the King whose throne is above yours. • Measure success by obedience, not applause – 1 Kings 20:28 shows victory came “that you may know that I am the LORD.” When outcomes aim at showcasing Him, arrogance loses its stage. • Guard your words before they leave your lips – Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” – Before speaking, ask: Will this sentence magnify Christ or magnify me? • Keep short accounts with God through immediate confession – 1 John 1:9 promises cleansing when we confess rather than conceal. Ben-Hadad hid; we step into light. • Invite wise friends to probe your motives – Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” – Give at least one trusted believer permission to ask, “Is that decision about God’s glory or your ego?” • Celebrate others’ victories – Philippians 2:3 “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” – Congratulate, post, share, and pray for peers’ successes; it trains the heart to rejoice instead of compete. • Serve in unseen places – Matthew 6:4 “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” – Volunteer where recognition is unlikely—nursery duty, kitchen cleanup, mid-week visitation. Pride starves when spotlight fades. • Replace boasting with gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in every circumstance.” – For each achievement, voice three specific thank-yous to God and others who contributed. • Remember the ruin that pride brings – Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction.” – Picture Ben-Hadad’s shattered wall as a vivid mental warning whenever self-flattery surfaces. Encouragement from Humble Examples • Moses: “Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3) Leadership and meekness can coexist. • John the Baptist: “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30) True greatness points away from itself. • Jesus: “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) The perfect antidote to arrogance is gazing at the Servant-King. Living Application Checklist □ Begin each day acknowledging God’s throne. □ Speak only words that honor Him. □ Confess prideful thoughts immediately. □ Welcome accountability. □ Look for hidden ways to serve. □ Celebrate and thank others daily. □ Keep Christ’s cross before your eyes. When these habits shape our hearts, collapsed walls and hidden rooms will belong to history’s Ben-Hadads, not to us. |
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