BE BLESSTIFIED!
WHY YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU SAY, “I’M PROUD OF___________”Original, daily devotionals, inspiration and more from a fresh, "Hey! I never thought about it like that before" perspective.
It amazes me how many people who claim to be Christians either ignore or don’t know that pride is a sin. Not only is it a sin. It’s a sin that frustrates God more than others. Now, I know there are no big sins or little sins, but yes, there ARE some that upset God more.
That shouldn’t be hard to understand. It’s a sin for someone to lie on you, it’s also a sin for someone to try to kill you…which would upset you more?
It’s a sin for someone to lust after your spouse, it’s also a sin for someone to sleep with him or her…which would upset you more?
Well, the latter in both cases is just like pride to God relative to other sins. In fact, I think that’s a great way to help define abominations in practical, contemporary terms.
God makes it clear that pride is a sin…
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)
16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Unfortunately, too many Christians act as though there is some acceptable form of pride. Pride is the ultimate subtle form of idolatry…self worship, race worship, national worship. Pride is giving ourselves credit what God has accomplished.
How many times have you thought, heard, said or agreed with any of these statements?
“I’m a proud American!”
“I’m proud to be Black!”
“I’m proud to be White!”
“I’m proud of my heritage!”
“I’m proud of our traditions!”
“I’m proud of my child!”
‘I’m proud of my accomplishments!”
God does not excuse pride, no matter how we justify it.
I think justifying pride is one of the subtlest forms of blasphemy because we in essentially ‘think’ for God…
We decide that the ‘pride’ we’re feeling is different. We decide that God understands. We decide He knows what we mean…
“When I say I’m proud, God knows what I mean.”
Now, I know some people will say I’m over thinking this. There are some who will say I’m making a big deal out of nothing. There are some who will say I’m being too nitpicky. But, sometimes that’s our problem. God will make His expectations clear and we quickly make excuses or try to justify what we want to do. We’re quick to say, “That’s not what He meant by that”.
God said what He said, means what He means…He’s absolute.
Self-esteem and pride are two different things. Self-esteem is loving yourself and valuing the God in you. God wants us to love ourselves through Him (Matthew 22:39). Pride is valuing ourselves more than God and what we’ve done or accomplished more than God.
God does not allow us to be proud of anything.
Here’s a suggestion that I have to constantly remind myself of…
Try it in the sentences above. Still works doesn’t it? And, it’s not a sin. It’s obedience…
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Wow I never thought about it like this but I believe you’re right! There are so many subtle things we say and do that lead us right into sin. They seem so small and sometimes we can even do them subconsciously but they still lead us right into sin! I was just trying to find a better word to use instead of proud and I thought of “satisfied” or “pleased”.
Example: I’m very satisfied/pleased that I was able to graduate from college. (Instead of: Im proud that I graduated from college)
What do you think?
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I think that’s great! Maybe we can say, I’m proud that God allowed me to graduate from college…”Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord”:-)
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Yes tht sounds great! Stay blessed!
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You too:-)
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I never thought about it like that. Growing up, I used to say ‘I’m proud to be Trinidadian’, but now I say ‘I’m happy to have been born in Trinidad’. I like ‘thankful’ better. Thank you for this post. God bless you.
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God bless you too my friend:-)
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AMEN! I have had to say this to many people who have expressed pride. I have been prideful don’t get me wrong! NOW I AM FREE FROM THAT!!! All glory and honor to our God on high!! He is always teaching!
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Amen my friend. God bless you!!!:-)
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And may God keep blessing you with the things He gives you to share that are so important! Our God is a jealous God and HE so has the right to be! Anything that is good and righteous from a person IS because of Him-not us! HAVE A BLESSED DAY! OH, YEAH it already is a blessed day when we wake up and KNOW Jesus as our Lord and Saviour! ❤
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Hallelujah! BE BLESSTIFIED:-) Keep up the great work with your blog!
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Terrific post! Pride gives self credit, thankful gives God credit.
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Thank you my friend! Have an awesome day!!!
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Have an awesome day yourself!
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An interesting thing happened right after I read this post and left my earlier comment. I turned to my morning devotional, which includes reading from a daily guide. Today’s scripture in this guide is Galatians 6:4 (NIV):
Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.
!!
Paul Meier, MD, the Christian psychiatrist who diagnosed my PTSD in 2003, is the author of Free To Forgive, the devotional that I read every morning. In his writing about today’s scripture, Dr. Meier had this to say:
“He (God) doesn’t want us to have false or arrogant pride. The original Greek word here is ‘kauchema,’ which implies personal exultation over what you and God are doing as a team in your life.”
With so many different translations of the Bible, it’s easy to see how people can get confused. Thankfully, we have a gracious and merciful God who judges according to the intentions of our hearts!
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Amen! Thanks for sharing that. It’s interesting to see how God is consistent in how He ministers to us through different people. You’re right, I’m so glad that God knows our hearts.
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I very much appreciate this perspective of pride versus giving thanks ✨ Thank you for the valuable share
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Thanks to you for commenting. I enjoy your blog. BE BLESSTIFIED:-)
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