FAITH CAPSULE: When pride settles in man self-destruction takes it reign in man’s life.

2 Kings 5

Pride is a personal ride to self-destruction. When pride settles in man, man is set on a journey for self-destruction. Naaman the leper, by virtue of his position (commander of the army of the king of Syria) allowed pride to almost derail his restoration. Elisha sent a messenger to him with instruction for his healing restoration and he responded as stated in the Bible, “But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God…” (2 Kings 5:10-11) Naaman rejected instruction for his healing restoration and went in rage. Being furious and having a rage where there is need to tremble in honor and humility is the evidence of empty pride. For Naaman, if not the sake of his servant that redirected him back to Elisha’s instruction, he would have missed his healing restoration.
Jesus, in one of His crossing over “…one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, ‘My daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.’” (Mark 5:22-23) Jairus put aside his religious title that could have built an empty pride in him. Jairus’ title did not measure to the task that was at hand as he went to meet with Jesus. Jairus needed to have his daughter delivered from the point of death. Unlike Naaman, Jairus could not allow his title to deny his miracle but approached Jesus trembling with all honor and humility. The word mentioned that he “fell at his feet and begged Him earnestly.” Jairus fell at His feet to lay it all unto Jesus. Imagine Jairus begging earnestly for the life of his daughter saying, “Here I am, a poor religious leader, have mercy on my dying daughter.” While begging at the feet of the Master, he made his request without paying attention to his title and the multitude. Jairus saw Jesus and he took a step of faith; pride subsided and humility took the place of pride. Jairus’ stepping out caused him to have a direct contact with Jesus. Jesus knows all things and Jairus’ need was not strange to Jesus. His stepping out and seeing Jesus was a renunciation of being a part of the multitude to being one who was on purpose and not flowing with the crowd. Let Jesus see you in your need and not just in the crowd. Watch out, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs16:18)

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from every spirit of pride.