FAITH CAPSULE: Knowingly or unknowingly, is it pride that is hindering you to live life for the glory of God?
2 Kings 5
What is reducing man to live life for the glory of God? Can you search your heart and not be self-victim not to live life for the glory of God? There is nothing that can reduce man but self. Naaman had leprosy which was not enough to reduce him to live life for the glory of God.
It is written, “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.” (2 Kings 5:1) With all the honors in the life of Naaman there was leprosy. In documentation of Naaman, leprosy could not deny Naaman’s status and achievement before his master. The Hindrance issue of Naaman was alive in him and not obvious to his master and people around him. The hindrance issue which clouded Naaman is the same that is clouding so many today especially among believers. The hindrance in Naaman’s life was none other than pride.
It was hindrance issue that stood between Naaman and the word of his healing. The bible recorded, “Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” (2 Kings 5:10) Wash and clean was the word of healing that was spoken to Naaman. Evidently the power to get Naaman’s healing was obedience to the word of God’s prophet. The hindrance issue in Naaman reacted negatively as it is written, “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, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:11-12).
Hindrance issue in Naaman’s life was pride. Unknowingly or knowingly, is it pride that is hindering you to live life for the glory of God? The pride in Naaman’s life manifested when: He became furious (extreme anger); Naaman walked away from his glorious healing; Naaman’s spirit of “I” set in; rage took over Naaman to act with fury. Knowingly or unknowingly, is any of Naaman having place in you?
When pride in Naaman’s life subsided, obedience to the word of prophet led him to be washed from the leprosy in his life.
Today, take time out to look in the mirror of the word of God. Word of God is a revealing word for man to observe for self-correction. Give self continually to the word of God as mirror for correcting self and not become a victim of self-destruction in life. Pride is without doubt a personal ride to self-destruction.
Prayer for today: Ask before God for deliverance from pride of self-destruction.