“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’” Obadiah 3
Pride is a deceiver. It resides in our hearts. Pride makes me think more of myself than I ought to, trust more in my own power than I ought to, and deceive me into thinking everything I have has been made possible by the trinity of me, myself, and I.
Obadiah brought the message of the Lord to a prideful people. The Edomites foolishly thought highly of themselves, secure in their own undefeatable strength. Security, however, rests in God and these people opposed God’s own from their beginning to their end, so God’s accounting stood against them. God brought these enemies low and humbled every aspect of their trusted resources, their secure homes, wealth, allies, and wise men. Nothing they placed their hope in remained intact.
It is so tempting to allocate our trust in the things God alone has granted to us. Once we trust in those things more than the giver of all things, we are one quick step away from taking pride in the work of our own hands. And if I am proud, my pride will bring me low rather than exalt me. Proverbs 29:23 says, “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” Do not be mistaken, God has given us everything we have, whether we have been deceived into believing otherwise or not. Honor comes through humility, whereas pride deceives to bring us low.
Dear One, Is there something you are boasting in or trusting in for security other than God?