Father, I am grateful that this was the last day of school until after the first of the new year. I ask that You enable me to use my time wisely and that my rest would be restorative. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:4d (<<click here to read the passage)

There are many things in life that are no problem for us in moderation. The problem arises when we overindulge. An occasional sweet treat is enjoyable, but eating too much of it can adversely affect our health – weight gain, tooth decay, diabetes, etc. We know that too much alcohol can give us all kinds of issues. Even things meant for our good can take us downward if we overdo them, medications, for example.

Did you realize that you can drink excessive amounts of water? We understand that water is good for us. It is essential for our very survival. But if we consume it in too great a quantity, the Mayo Clinic states that our kidneys can’t get rid of the excess water. The sodium content of our blood becomes diluted. It’s called hyponatremia, and it can be life-threatening.

We have to be careful in many areas of our lives.

Pride is one of those areas. Pride in and of itself is not necessarily bad. There’s nothing wrong with feeling a deep pleasure or satisfaction that comes from our achievements. If you’re a good speaker or play an instrument well, or if encouraging and loving people comes easy for you, it’s all good.

We get into trouble when we cross the line, become braggarts, and speak with too much pride about something we have done or possess. When we begin thinking that we are better and more important than other people, that’s a problem. We often describe those kinds of people as being arrogant.

Love suffocates in that kind of mindset. Love has so much to do with others, and if we are stuck on thoughts of ourselves, how great we are, and how others are so below us – love ceases.

The last part of verse 4 from 1 Corinthians 13 from the Amplified Bible reads,

…love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. AMP

Another poignant verse is found in Proverbs 16:18, which says,

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. NLT

When we begin to feel that we are the only ones worthy to stand, we lose the support of others, so much so that we fall…and fall hard. If we go too far down that trail, we can even lose God’s support.

“The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 3:34 (Septuagint Bible)*

And that, my friend, is most definitely dangerous territory. Lord Jesus, may we guard our hearts from excessive pride. Amen.

*An ancient translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek

Dec 21st, 2023, Thurs, 7:22 pm