"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (1 Pet., ch. 5, v. 5*).
Pride is inherent to every person. Regardless of our age, abilities, social status, or culture, we all tend to promote ourselves in various ways.
As the first king of Israel, Saul was meant to lead the people by following God's instructions with the power of the Holy Spirit. To be successful, he needed to remember two things: the authority he possesses is granted by God, and his responsibilities include fulfilling God's plan, leading the people by personal example, and obeying God's law. But like many of us today, Saul acted as if he was in charge, not the Lord. Because he relied on himself and was prideful, he violated God's commandments and performed an act of priesthood that he was not authorized to carry out.
You might think this doesn't relate to you because you're not in a high position. But in fact, you are. As Christians, we are chosen to be God's people (1 Chron., ch. 2, v. 9) and He has a special task for each of us (Eph., ch. 2, v. 10). This is why the Holy Spirit lives within believers: to guide us and strengthen us to fulfill our part of God's plan.
Do you sometimes think your way is better than God's? Independence stems from pride, but a humble heart lives in complete trust in God.
Link to the original article: https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-problem-of-pride
The Bible quotes are from The Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013