Read: Proverbs 16:16-20
“Has anyone seen my math book?” asked Aria. “I can’t find it anywhere.” But no one had seen it, and Aria finally remembered she had left it at Zoe’s house. My perfect homework record will be ruined! she thought miserably. She always had her homework done at the beginning of class each day. Maybe if I stayed home sick tomorrow, I could make up the lesson.
So the next morning, she pretended to have a stomachache and went back to bed while her family got ready for school and work—except for Mom, who insisted on staying home with her.
That afternoon, Aria’s sister brought her math book home from school. “Zoe sent this,” she said. “She wondered if you were going to try to come to choir practice tonight. If you can’t, she’ll have to sing that solo part, and she doesn’t know it that well.”
Oh no! I forgot all about choir, Aria thought. I really do want to go, and I’m tired of lying in bed. So Aria announced that she felt better.
Mom wasn’t convinced. “If you were so sick that you had to miss school, you’d better stay home the rest of the day too.”
That evening, Mom found Aria sobbing into her pillow. “What’s wrong, Aria? Do you feel worse?”
Aria shook her head. “I wanted to go to choir practice. I’m not sick. I wasn’t sick this morning either,” she said through a sob. “I just didn’t want to ruin my perfect homework record.”
Mom sat down on the bed. “You may not be sick, but you sure took a fall. You wanted your homework record to be perfect so everyone would think highly of you, right?”
Aria sniffed. “I guess so.”
“That’s pride,” said Mom. “Your pride caused you to fall—to tell a lie rather than let others see you as less than perfect. Pride is harmful because it causes us to hide our flaws and our constant need for Jesus’s grace—from both ourselves and others.”
Aria hung her head. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
Mom gave her a hug. “I forgive you—and Jesus will forgive you too. Trust Him to help you let go of your pride so you can help others see how much we all need Him.”
–Agnes Livezey
How about you? Are you proud? Do you do things just to impress others? It’s okay to want to look your best or do well in school or sports, but when you’re willing to do anything—even something you know is wrong—to keep others from seeing your flaws, that’s pride. Ask Jesus to forgive you and to help you root out pride in your life. Then be honest about your shortcomings and your need for Him.
Today’s key verse: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
Today’s key thought: Don’t be proud
