Prideful and Controlling

Are you a person in authority in the position you hold?  Do you feel threatened by those under you?  I think we all have a certain amount of pride in us that we need to control or it will be our downfall.

Pride is one of the seven sins that God hates and so should we.  It says in Proverbs 16:17-19, “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.  Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.  It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.”  It also says this in James 4:6, “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

Many people that hold high positions, in or out of the church, like to throw their weight around, so to speak, many are threatened by others because of their position, afraid that they will lose their position to someone else. Some people in high positions are there just to impress people; they become very controlling, letting their authority go to their head.  As soon as anyone lets pride take over their lives they become out of control and start a downhill spiral that will end up in humiliation and embarrassment and in some cases it my even cost them their lives.  Pride is a sin that needs to be eradicated from each our lives.

If you check out the story of Esther in the Bible you will read about a perfect example of a man that had a real problem with pride, arrogance and self-importance which usually happens to prideful people that think they are more important than everyone else.  The man’s name was Haman who had achieved great power under King Ahasuerus of Persia.  Haman’s desire was to control people; his highest goal was to be honored by everyone.  He was blinded by arrogance and self-importance.  Because Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to him he planned to kill him, going as far as having a gallows built that he planned to hang Mordecai on.  But his hatred went farther than that, he wanted all the Jews killed throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus because his pride was hurt.

What can you learn from this story?

     1 - Hatred and pride are sins and if not repented of will ultimately       

          destroy the person that doesn’t control it.  God has a way of turning   

          people’s plans on themselves at times.  Don’t forget the Word says      

          that you will reap what you sow.

     2 - Pride and self-importance will be punished.

     3 - An insatiable thirst for power and prestige is self-destructive.

There are other examples I could use like King Saul, King Nebuchadnezzar, even myself and more but I think you got the message.  If you are in a position of authority, I hope you will take this ‘Tidbit’ to heart and apply it to your life, you have no excuse not to, plus you will avoid the Lord’s correction and discipline and instead you will be blessed; the choice is yours.  God bless and have a great day!!