Pride is associated with failure.

Pride is associated with failure.

In almost every instance in the Bible, as well as in life, pride is associated with failure, not success. We hear a great deal about the inferiority complex, but the superiority complex of pride is seldom spoken of. It was pride that caused the fall of Lucifer, and he became Satan, the devil. It was pride that led King Saul down to a shameful and untimely death. It was pride that caused Peter to deny his Lord.

The greatest act of humility in the history of the universe was when Jesus Christ stooped to die on the cross of Calvary. And before any man can get to heaven, he must kneel at the foot of the cross and acknowledge that he is a sinner, that he has broken the Ten Commandments of God, and that he needs the grace of God in Christ. No man can come proudly to the Savior     …Billy Graham.

Above the crowd.

When the steeple of a local church caught fire after being struck by lightning, firefighters had a difficult time putting out the blaze. The crew had to haul heavy hoses up three flights of stairs to save the structure, which was described as tall, windowless and empty.

I know some people who fit the description of that steeple. They are “tall” in the sense that they set themselves above others. They are “windowless” in that they never let anyone see inside. And they are “empty” because they never allow anything to get inside.

Whenever we set ourselves above and apart from others, we become spiritual firetraps, and one small spark can ignite a devastating blaze. Pride is particularly dangerous because Satan disguises it as good and makes us think we don’t need God. Pride keeps many “good” people from entering heaven. And some who accomplish great miracles in Jesus’ name will one day hear Him say, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). But others who humble themselves will become “the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”.

We have the opportunity to learn the truth that Satan does not want us to believe: True godliness is achieved not by elevating ourselves but by lowering ourselves.     …Julie A Link.