Are You Clothed with Humility or Pride?

PRAY OVER THIS

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?’” Acts 5:1-3

 

PONDER THIS

What can we learn from Ananias and Sapphira’s sin? It was rooted in pride. They wanted to be praised. They gave to be seen of men. They weren’t giving to Jesus; they were giving to themselves. When there is pride in your heart, you are a sitting duck for the devil. Pride, more than anything else, makes you putty in the devil’s hands.

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:5, “Be clothed with humility.” We are to wear humility like clothes. Then he said in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

There is nothing that puts you further out of the devil’s reach than genuine humility. And there is nothing that makes you more susceptible to the machinations of the devil than pride. When you have pride in your heart, you share the very nature of the devil. Ananias and Sapphira allowed pride to seep into their hearts, just as pride came into the devil’s heart so long ago. Let us guard against making the same mistake.

What are some signs of pride you can identify in your life?

Who has been an example of genuine humility to you?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to someone who has been an example of humility to you; ask your friend to share how to depend on Jesus for this.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers