Pride Goeth Before A Fall

"What most commonly leads a tragic hero to his downfall is nothing other than pride." Aristotle

In my devotions this week I was looking at the story of Samson. He was the strong oke with the big muscles who klapped all the Philsitines. There were many times Delilah tried to subdue the great man before she finally won. If it was me I would've become sick of the woman and put her out on her ear, but it was Samson's pride that stopped him doing this. We all know how the story ends. Samson, blind and bound brings the temple down on the Philistines, killing more at his death than he had in his whole life. Samson's tragic fall led to the end of his freedom. He was a prisoner to the Philistines, a sorry figure used for entertainment. So goes the great hero.

After reading this story it reminded me of the times I've put what I've done before what God has done. Whether it be building the fence or archiving videos, my pride put my achievements before the achievements of the one who gave me the knowledge with which to carry the tasks out. I was so proud of everything I've done and still am but need to remian humble, knowing that no matter how much I do, God has done so much more.

I sorted videos and stored them - God sorted the stars in space and stored them
I created a fence in 3 weeks - God created the world and everything in it, in 6 days.
I made a music library for the mothers - God made the ears that hear the music and the hands with which to play it.

As you can see there really is no comparison. I'm not trying to compare myself and God, I'm merely pointing out how futile it is putting self pride before honouring God.

I'm not saying pride is wrong either. Pride is what made things what they are. British football fans wouldn't be half as passionate without the staunch, churchill-uesqe, bulldog pride. I feel pride when I hear of Britains green and pleasant lands rising out of the dark satanic fields. I'm proud of being Scottish. I'm proud of my South African heritage. I'm proud to be a Christian. I'm proud of the children here. I'm proud of the way a little boy here hugs and consoles his crying friends. I'm proud of the way a child, brought to Rehoboth in a wheelchair with a twisted spine is now the best dancer, here, drawing children from the older classes at school to his class, just to watch him dance or the child who is now starting to walk of his own free will and ability.

There is nothing wrong with pride so long as it doesn't replace the honour of God.

Aristotle used the Greek word Catharsis meaning cleansing. Having seen a great person fall, people should be cleansed of their own pride.

I'm not sure whether you know it, but at the minute the ANC party in South Africa is electing a new leader. It's a tight run affair between Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. If you had asked me 6 months ago, Thabo Mbeki would have been my number one choice by a hundred miles. And even though he is still my number one (purely because I'd rather have Hannibal Lecter than Jacob Zuma), the margin is much closer as I ask myself what happened to this once promising President. Ear-marked by Madiba himself, Mbeki had the chance to make South Africa strong and stable, but as his pride pushed the country's objectives further aside, so the country slid down the rocky slope. Pride forced the former exile to deny the link between HIV and AIDs therefore denying millions of South Africans the right to ARVs and proper medication. A man who aligns himself with the tyrant Mugabe and would rather jet all over keeping face with politicians of the world than sort the problems on his own doorstep.

If this is what can happen to a President and in the case of Samson, a great fighter and leader, it stands to show what a destrcutive force pride can be.

So I ask you to pray for the minds of the men that run this country. May they not seek personal agendas and look to line their pockets with money needed by the poor, but push their pride aside and admit there is a problem and that the country needs help.

For as the old saying goes; "Pride goeth before a fall!"