“Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 CSB
I have to share a secret with all of you, writing about pride is not easy. At least it’s not for me, because it is like shining a flashlight into my heart; areas of pride have crept out that I didn’t know I had. Lord have mercy! I’ve heard pastors say it often in sermons, they are preaching to themselves more than they are anyone else. I now know they are telling the truth. Since I started writing these devotionals, it has grown me in ways I can’t even put into words.
Pride goes before a fall is a phrase you will hear come out of my lips often. Especially on the tennis court. It usually happens right after I hit a great shot, typically the next one is a flop. My pride gets in the way. I hit one good, down the line shot and I think I’m Martina Navratilova. But tennis is what helps me most with my pride. For instance, I hate to lose. In tennis, you lose at some point. I have to work on being a good loser. I have come a long way from where I used to be, but I still need work. Thankfully, God sent me help.
My husband, Ron, is the best sportsman I know. I know that is biased, but for those of you who know him, I’d bet you would agree. But don’t take my word for it, take the word of the opposing team. Last night my husband’s tennis team, which he captains lost their tennis match. In a USTA match, like this was, there are two singles matches and 3 doubles matches. Whoever wins three out of five matches wins the entire match. Ron, had finished his match and we were waiting as the other guys finished theirs. One of the doubles matches finished, as the guys were walking off the court one of the opposing team members caught Ron’s eye and said: “Your team is the best sportsmen I’ve ever played against. You don’t find it that often.” My husband brushed it off as nothing, but I am a proud wife.
And we’re right back to where we started. Do you see how that works? Pride is around every corner. I am proud that I’m married to a man that not only is a good sportsman, but leads other men to be good sportsmen. But he doesn’t even know he does it. He’s not proud or arrogant about it, he’s just honest. He gives others credit when they deserve it, he gives himself credit when he’s done something right, but he has a unique way of not being prideful about it. I don’t know the secret in his sauce yet, but I’m learning. I’m praying God will give us many more years together for me to figure it out. But there is this one truth, pride goes before a fall. My husband knows it and I’m still learning it.
Let’s work on it together with this prayer:
Lord, pride does come before destruction. Arrogance does cause us to fall. Help us today learn to be good sportsmen. Don’t let our pride trip us up today or ever. Keep us hungry, keep us humble, keep us focused on You. (Proverbs 16:18 CSB). In Jesus Name we pray. Amen
