By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
Tis the season for what my family calls the creepy crud. Colds, viruses, and stomach bugs are making their rounds in our home. I suppose the only upside to being sick now is that we build-up tolerance to stay healthy later on. (At least that’s the plan.)
God created our bodies with an amazing ability to ward off intruders that make us sick. When functioning properly, our immune system is able to identify and attack a variety of threats, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
Thankfully, God offers us protection against another ill-fated condition—PRIDE.
Jealousy, envy, vanity, and covetousness are some of the more prominent forms of pride, but possessiveness, greed, bitterness, and resentment can be just as destructive.
A sister’s recent weight loss, a friend’s new house, a coworker’s unexpected promotion, that Facebook friend who seems to have the perfect life… these are the kinds of things we should be celebrating. But if our heart is in the wrong place, the good fortune of others flares negativity in our spirit.
How we react to the success (or failure) of others says a lot about our spiritual maturity.
“I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” (Isaiah 13:11)
Friends, let us not forget that Satan was cast out of heaven because of self-serving pride. (Ezekiel 28:12-19) It’s kind of a big deal! We would be wise to eradicate the ugly contaminate before it becomes harmful to others.
Like a booster shot in the arm, the Holy Spirit’s gut-check acts as our first round of defense.
When we get that nauseating feeling that we’ve become a little too “me” focused, we need to bow before the Lord, seek forgiveness, and consider this important truth: there’s a whole lot more to this world than little old us.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
WARNING: Pride is lethal. Disregard the Holy Spirit’s conviction, and like toxic bacterium that grows undetected, our most precious relationships are at risk of dying a slow and painful death.
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
