How can we guard against pride like Edom's in our own lives? Edom’s Lesson: Pride Invites Judgment Ezekiel 35:10: “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,’—although the LORD was there—” • Edom looked at Judah and Israel’s weakness and assumed, “They’re mine to take.” • The core issue wasn’t military ambition; it was a heart that ignored God’s presence—“although the LORD was there.” • Pride always begins with forgetting that God rules every inch of territory, every breath of life (Psalm 24:1). Tracing Pride to Its Roots • Self-reliance: “We will possess.” (cf. Obadiah 1:3) • Comparison: Measuring strength against others rather than against God’s holiness (2 Corinthians 10:12). • Spiritual blindness: Overlooking “the LORD was there” (Psalm 10:4). Guardrail #1: Recognize God’s Ownership • Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” • 1 Corinthians 4:7 — “What do you have that you did not receive?” Practical step: Begin each day by verbally acknowledging one area of life that belongs to God—time, talent, treasure, or relationships. Guardrail #2: Keep God’s Sovereignty in View • Daniel 4:34-35 — Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity returned when he “raised my eyes toward heaven.” • James 4:13-15 — Plan, but always say, “If the Lord wills.” Practical step: When setting goals, write “If the Lord wills” at the top; it disciplines the mind to submit plans. Guardrail #3: Practice Thankful Humility • Philippians 2:3-5 — “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” • Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction.” • Micah 6:8 — “Walk humbly with your God.” Practical step: End each day listing three gifts you received that you could not have produced on your own. Guardrail #4: Serve Someone Who Cannot Repay You • Mark 10:45 — “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” • Luke 14:12-14 — Invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Practical step: Schedule regular acts of hidden service—no social media, no announcement—in order to starve pride of applause. Guardrail #5: Maintain a Quick-Confession Lifestyle • 1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.” • Psalm 139:23-24 — “Search me, O God… See if there is any offensive way in me.” Practical step: When conviction comes, confess immediately; delayed confession lets pride rationalize sin. Guardrail #6: Surround Yourself with Truth-Tellers • Proverbs 27:6 — “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” • Hebrews 3:13 — “Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Practical step: Invite a trusted believer to ask, “Where do you see pride in me?” and give permission for honest answers. Guardrail #7: Keep God’s Presence Central • Edom forgot that “the LORD was there.” • Psalm 16:8 — “I have set the LORD always before me.” Practical step: Memorize and repeat short “God-is-here” phrases during the day—“You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). Living Humility Daily • Pride whispers, “This is mine”; humility echoes, “This is the Lord’s.” • Pride calculates what it can gain; humility counts on what God has given. • Pride overlooks God’s presence; humility orients every moment around it. By keeping these guardrails in place, we refuse Edom’s path and choose the safer, richer road of humble dependence on the Lord who is always there. |
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