Life Lessons from the Inspirational Study Bible

Do not be ashamed to serve others because of your love for Jesus Christ, or to appear poor in the world's eyes.

Do not count on your own strength; trust God. Do what you can, and God will supply the difference...

Take glory neither in money, if you have some, nor in influential friends, but in God who gives you everything and above all wants to give himself.

Avoid boasting about the size or the beauty of your body, which a little illness can disfigure or destroy.

Have no pride in your native wit and talent; that would displease God who gave you every good thing you naturally possess.

Reject the thought that you are better than anyone else. If you think such haughty thoughts, God (who knows what is in you) will consider you worse than they.

Pride about our own good deeds is pointless. God has his own ideas regarding what is good, and he does not always agree with us. If there is anything good about you, believe better things of others. This will keep you humble.

It will not hurt you at all to consider yourself less righteous than others, but it will be disastrous for you to consider yourself better than even one person.

The humble are always at peace; the proud are often envious and angry.

(From The Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis)

APPLICATION:

Pride and ambition may creep in and sweep away our devotion to God. Success often tries to squeeze God out of our mind. Check your attitudes. Resist pride. Focus on Christ.

EXPLORATION:

Pride--Numbers 16:8-10; Judges 8:1-3; Judges 17:6; Mark 9:34; Luke 18:11-14; Ephesians 2:11-13

Click here for an article about pride.


**Taken from The Inspirational Study Bible edited by Max Lucado.**