JUN 2

Acts 12:20-23
Memorise Proverbs 16:18
“… my glory will I not give to another…”

Another sin which we commonly encounter is the sin of pride. Pride can come in many different forms. In fact, and as you will see over the next few days, it is often the root cause of many other sins. Some people manifest pride very obviously by boasting publicly of their achievements. Others exhibit it more subtly, thinking silently in their hearts, “At least I’m not as boastful as that person even though I have achieved this too” – is not this a form of pride too? Still others who are more shy and self-conscious may be equally guilty, for when they worry so much about what others think of them, are they not taking pride in their own image or “face”?

But what is so wrong with being proud? Today’s first reading gives us an interesting account of the downfall of King Herod. On a certain occasion, he had been seated upon his throne delivering a speech. As the people began to praise him saying, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man”, he was immediately struck dead. Why? “Because he gave not God the glory”. What a harsh condemnation! But the lesson for us is clear. God takes great issue with the man’s pride, for it robs Him of His glory. God is fiercely jealous over His own glory, as He has said in Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another”. King Herod’s heart was lifted up when the people praised him as such; he must have started to think of himself as a god! God Almighty is most displeased with such thinking, for there is only one God in Heaven and on earth.

We might not have gone to such an extent, of thinking of ourselves as gods. But there are many other instances when we have been just as proud. Think of the last time you had performed an act of service – did you catch yourself thinking, “what a good work I have done!”? When you completed a particularly difficult task, did you think to yourself, “how smart/strong/swift I was in completing that!”? Perhaps you spent some time to help a fellow brother in need – did you then think, “what a good friend I am, how selfless and self-sacrificial!”? In all these, whether we realise it or not, we are robbing God of His glory and taking it for ourselves. May we all be more conscious of guarding against the sin of pride, and strive to ascribe all glory to God alone.

Thought: “…He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Prayer: Lord, teach me humility and help me to glorify Your name.