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The Pride in Our Lives

David came out and shouted after him, My lord the king! And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. Then he shouted to Saul, Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes it is not true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, I will never harm the king for he is the Lord’s anointed one. Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I did not kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.¹

 

Pride leads us to believe that we can handle life on our own. The first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, illustrate different approaches to managing pride.

 

The high opinion Saul had of himself led him to disobey the commandments of God. After defeating the Amalekites, he decided to keep some spoils, even though God had commanded the destruction of everything, including the animals (1 Samuel 15:3). When Samuel confronted him, Saul said he had kept them to sacrifice to the Lord. God saw a heart full of pride. When selfishness dominates our thinking, we stop obeying God for our benefit, and if we are caught, we try to justify our disobedience, as Saul did.

 

David, the second king of Israel, chosen while Saul was still reigning, did not attempt to start his own reign. Instead, he waited for the timing of God. That meant enduring the outbursts of jealousy and assassination attempts from Saul, without retaliation. In fact, even when given the chance, David refused to take the throne, not allowing pride to dominate his thinking.

 

Is there any beginning of pride in your life? If there is, spend time with the Lord today and ask Him to teach you to grow in humility.

 

Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask Your forgiveness because there are times when I still get carried away by pride. I ask You to examine my heart and let me know where I need to work and give You those areas of my life so that You can continue to mold them according to Your will. I ask You to help me grow in humility. More of You and less of me. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

1.    1 Samuel 24:8-12 (NLT).

 

Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.