May 28
Pride
Comes Before the Fall
“The Lord hates those whose hearts are proud. They will be punished for sure.”
Proverbs 16:5 (NIrV)
Asher was the star student in his class. His test scores were always the highest, his essays were the ones the teacher read aloud as examples, and his classmates looked to him for help when they were stuck. But as his reputation grew, so did his pride.
Asher began dismissing the ideas of others, convinced no one could match his intellect. During group projects, he ignored his classmates' contributions, rewriting their work to match his "superior" standards. He openly corrected his teachers when they misspoke and rolled his eyes at their attempts to challenge him.
At first, Asher's classmates tried to involve him, but over time, they stopped asking for his input. Teachers praised him less, frustrated with his arrogance. Though Asher excelled academically, he began to notice a growing void. The laughter and camaraderie in the classroom no longer included him.
One day, Asher's literature teacher, Mrs. Patel, gave the class a difficult assignment: analyze a poem and present an interpretation. Asher scoffed. Poetry was beneath him, too subjective for someone who thrived on facts and logic. He threw together a presentation, confident it would outshine everyone else.
On the day of the presentations, Asher was the last to go. As he watched his classmates share heartfelt and creative interpretations, he began to feel a gnawing insecurity. When his turn came, he spoke confidently, but for the first time, the classroom was silent—not in awe, but in disinterest.
Mrs. Patel gave him a small smile. “Asher, your analysis is thorough, but I wonder—did you consider how the poem might connect to emotions or experiences you haven’t had yet?”
Her words stung. Asher realized he had dismissed the assignment’s deeper purpose: to connect, to learn, to grow. Instead, his pride had kept him on the surface.
That evening, Asher sat at his desk, staring at the poem. For the first time, he admitted to himself that he didn’t have all the answers. He opened his Bible, searching for guidance, and his eyes fell on Proverbs 16:5: “The Lord hates those whose hearts are proud. They will be punished for sure.”
Asher closed his eyes and whispered a prayer. “Lord, forgive me for thinking I’m better than others. I see now that my pride has hurt my relationships and kept me from truly learning. Please help me to be humble, to listen, and to value the people around me.”
The next day at school, Asher approached a classmate he’d often dismissed. “Your interpretation yesterday was really insightful,” he said. “Could you share more about how you came up with it?” The classmate smiled, surprised but pleased, and they began to talk.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the talents and abilities You have given me.
Forgive me for the times I’ve let pride take over, thinking I didn’t need others or that I was better than them.
Help me to see the value in every person and to approach life with a humble heart.
Teach me to listen, to learn, and to grow through the wisdom of others.
Let my actions reflect Your love and grace, and may I always remember that all good things come from You, not from my own strength.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
