Have you ever seen the hilarious Capital One commercial featuring Charles Barkley? Nicknamed "Sir Charles," "The Round Mound of Rebound," and "The Chuckster," the 6' 6" NBA basketball star was one of the most dominant power-forwards to ever play the game. The commercial co-stars a little girl selecting her team from a lineup of rutty kids, but Barkley is in the lineup too! She picks Barkley first, and he explodes into haughty celebration, jumping up and down. The commercial implies that choosing Capital One is as evident as choosing Barkley over a little kid.
In Matthew 23:12, Jesus articulates a unique rule for selecting His MVPs: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Jesus does not pick the biggest man in the lineup or the best looking. He is attracted to the heart of humility and desires to elevate the humble heart to greatness. Jesus promises to give positions of honor to the lowly servant while shunning the arrogant. The one who talks a big game and lusts for prestigious places of honor will be opposed/humbled by God.
Pride is the enemy of humility. The Bible says that pride drives a man to dishonor (Proverbs 11:2; 29:23). God opposes the proud and stands in opposition to the proud man (1 Peter 5:5; Jeremiah 50:31). The prideful person is guaranteed a life of destruction (Proverbs 16:18). When I am prideful, God deploys opposition in my life; its design is to bring me to repentance. Warren Wiersbe said, "A tall tree attracts lightning. So God puts down those who are conceited. Stuck-up people usually suffer some humiliating experience designed to deflate their ego. After all, it takes only a small pin to prick a large balloon."
Humility is the enemy of pride. The Bible says, "Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor" (Proverbs 29:23). The humble in heart will receive favor from God (1 Peter 5:5). God elevates the humble to heights that He can use them and bless them. Philippians 2:3 states, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves." When I humble myself, the pride in me is destroyed. As I put others first, I am then exalted by God.
Have you allowed pride to creep into your life? It is challenging to be accurate in the face of opposition and remain respectfully humble. Do you view yourself as superior to others in any way? Lord, I humble myself and confess any pride, and I ask you to forgive me. Please help me to view my sin as more significant than any other man's sin. I ask You to expose any areas of pride in my life that I may humble myself instead of being humbled by You. Please help me to identify patterns where I am prone to self-exaltation. I want to be a humble giant for You!
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