Day 8 | Overcoming Pride

“As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.”

The sermon highlights how pride can be a significant factor in spiritual sloth. In Proverbs 26 we are presented with someone so convinced of their own wisdom that they dismiss the counsel of others, even when those others speak with discretion and sense.

This kind of pride can manifest in !our! thinking too. Especially when we think we know better than God. --We might resist God's call or the advice of wise counselors because we believe we! have a better understanding of our situation.

This attitude can lead to a form of sloth where we refuse to engage in the transformative work God wants to do because we think we don't need it.

The sermon uses the example of Charles Kane from "Citizen Kane" to illustrate this point. Kane's love for himself above all else led him to reject any input or correction from others, ultimately leading to a sad and isolated life. While we might not reach such extreme levels, we all have the tendency to prioritize our own wisdom and desires over God's guidance.

Overcoming this pride requires humility and a willingness to listen - to God and to the wise counsel of others. It means acknowledging that God's ways are higher than our ways, and that He truly knows what's best for us. It also means being open to correction and guidance from mature believers who can often see our blind spots better than we can.

Remember, God's call on our lives isn't to diminish us, but to help us become who we were truly created to be. When we humble ourselves and submit to God's wisdom, we open ourselves up to the transformative work He wants to do in our lives, overcoming the slothful resistance that pride can create.

Ask yourself

In what areas of my life am I most tempted to trust my own wisdom over God's guidance? 

How open am I to receiving correction or advice from mature believers?

What might it look like for me to humble myself before God in an area where I've been resistant to His leading?

Pray with me: Lord, forgive me for the times I've allowed pride to make me resistant to Your work in my life. Help me to remember that Your wisdom far surpasses my own. Give me the humility to listen to Your voice and to the wise counsel of others. I want to be open to the transformative work You want to do in me. Guide me in Your ways, for I know they lead to true life and fulfillment. In Jesus' name, Amen.