Pride Before the Fall
Arrogance can bring down even the best of us but we are never too far from The Master’s restoring touch
I remember how we had first met in elementary school. He was an orphan and he came to school that first day wearing dirty shoes that were slightly too big for his feet.
My new friend was soon adopted by a wealthy family and he was given the surname of a family that was well-known in many business circles. He had access to the best education, wonderful holidays, and wore brands my friends and I only dreamt about.
At first, he still hung out with us but by the time we reached middle school, he was way out of our reach. He eventually became fast friends with a group of schoolmates from wealthy families, and we were only able to watch him and his entourage from the sidelines.
We invited him to our parties but he never came. My friend joined his new friends on holidays and outings, but we were never invited, almost as if we were embarrassments to him.
After graduation, my friend landed a job in a prestigious firm and was soon tipped to be a partner. When he met with me and our former schoolmates, he often boasted about his achievements.
We later heard that he was engaged to be married to the beautiful daughter of a wealthy European industrialist, one of his adoptive father’s business partners. I was especially happy for his good fortune for his fiancée was a lovely woman who was also kind and generous.
But one day, when a poor family member approached him for a job, he belittled his resume and drove him out of the company. When news of my friend’s impending nuptials reached that poor relative, he recalled his rude treatment and took his revenge.
He informed my friend’s fiancée’s father of his past and soon, the angry and hurt woman confronted her fiancé. She said that just as his adoptive father had taken him from poverty to a better life, he should also have been more charitable to the less fortunate. Despite his pleadings, she called off the engagement and broke off with him.
My friend plunged into depression but he eventually saw the error of his ways. He apologised to his relative for his callousness and then called me and his former schoolmates to say the same.
I forgave him but some of our friends replied that “leopards never change their spots” and hung up. One of them even spat at him after he personally apologised to him.
But my friend turned to God and soldiered on. He came clean about his past and saw how his pride had hardened his heart until God had to drastically return him to the truth.
A year later, my sadder but wiser friend decided to woo his former fiancée again. It was not easy but she soon saw that he had changed and they are back together now.
My friend knew how the Lord had been merciful to him.
Pride goes before many falls, and some of that pride arises from good places.
King Uzziah of Judah initially grew in wisdom, stature and wealth as he kept his eyes on God but his later misplaced self-confidence led to a tragic downfall.
“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. They confronted King Uzziah and said, ‘It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honoured by the Lord God.’Dear
“Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.
“King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house — leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.” (2 Chronicles 26: 16–21, NIV)
Check yourself
The Pharisee in St Luke’s Gospel thought he had cornered the market on goodness and holiness but God honoured the prayers of his neighbour, a penitent and humble tax collector, instead.
“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18: 11–14, NIV)
In God’s upside-down economy, the humble are exalted, the poor become rich and the sorrowful receive joy.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4: 10, NIV)
The world’s enjoyment eventually leads to emptiness and disappointment but a God-centred life never disappoints.
Dear friend, are you aware of any prideful behaviour?
Perhaps like my friend, your attitude has had a heavy cost — loss of business and friends, and a relationship or two. You may think that it is too late and you are beyond redemption but do not lose hope.
Confess your failings to the Creator and come before Him with a contrite heart. Then see how He will lovingly receive you and restore your joy.
