“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18
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What often comes before a fall? Pride.
Brazilian soccer star Raphinha learned that the hard way on March 25, when his side lost a World Cup qualifying match to arch-rival Argentina, 4-1. In the lead-up to the highly anticipated contest, Raphinha was interviewed on the show “Romario TV” and guaranteed he would score against the defending World Cup champions. Not only that, but he suggested he may resort to physical violence.
“We’ll beat them up. … Absolutely! Beat them up!” Raphinha said, according to Reuters. “On the pitch and off the pitch if we have to.”
Once the game began at El Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, things didn’t go as Raphinha had planned. Argentina scored two goals in the first 12 minutes and added two more before the end of the match. Brazil’s lone goal in the 26th minute came from Matheus Cunha, not Raphinha, who involved himself in scuffles and received sarcastic gestures of appreciation from his opponents. Brazil hasn’t beaten Argentina in six years.
The lesson Raphinha learned that day is nothing new; it’s one God has given to His people for thousands of years. The Book of Proverbs is filled with general wisdom about how to lead a successful and God-glorifying life in submission to Him, and it often turns to the topic of pride. For example, Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Selfish pride — a deep satisfaction in one’s own achievements or character — is a temptation for us all in this corrupted and sin-infected world. When we feel good about ourselves and what we’ve done, we know we’ll feel even better when we can make sure others recognize how great we are too. That’s pride.
But there’s a big problem. Pride causes us to shift our gaze from God and His glory down to ourselves and our glory. Sooner or later, a fall will result. It’s inevitable. That’s because in ourselves, we are nothing. It sounds harsh, but it’s what the Bible says: “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves” (Galatians 6:3).
We will fall when we rely on ourselves. The good news for you today, if you are in Christ, is that salvation doesn’t depend on how strongly you trust in Jesus. It depends on how securely He holds you in His hands. Without fail, we would all fall from grace every day if it relied on our strength. But the great news for all who believe in Christ is that we aren’t relying on ourselves for salvation. That’s why our boasting is only in God and all He’s done to save sinners like us.
“Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord'” (1 Corinthians 1:31).
God gave us life and breath and all things. If you excel at a sport, He gave you that gift as well. Don’t be deceived into letting pride bubble up in your heart as a result, because once you do, you’ll start relying on yourself. And we all know what comes next.
— Kevin Mercer
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